This archive report was first published on 17 December 2019.
On December 13, 2019, a tragic incident occurred in Baringo County, where three people lost their lives after consuming contaminated food. The victims, who were mostly school children, had eaten a meal of maize mixed with beans, known as 'githeri', in Ilmaine, Marigat Sub-county.
According to Marigat Assistant County Commissioner Austin Ochieng, the three died while undergoing treatment at Kabarnet Hospital. Four of the victims were referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret for further treatment.
Two suspects, including a farm manager, are in police custody, assisting with investigations. Samples of the food have been taken to government laboratories for testing to determine whether the meal was poisoned.
Locals, including Benson Lemonoi, were shocked by the incident, which has left them struggling to come to terms with what happened. Lemonoi's cousin, Harrison Lerison, a Form Two student at Kiserian Secondary School, was among those who died.
