Bee attack leaves 16 Nairobi pupils injured during Lake Baringo tour
By Mustafa Juma, July 4, 2026Sixteen pupils from CITAM Woodley Primary School in Nairobi were on Friday, July 3, 2026, injured, five of them seriously, after a swarm of bees attacked a school tour group at Kambi Samaki Junction in Baringo North during an educational trip to Lake Baringo.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, the incident involved a group of 174 pupils, eight teachers and five drivers who were visiting the area when the bees struck.
Emergency responders from the Kenya Red Cross, working alongside the national and county governments, quickly moved to the scene to provide first aid, evacuate the injured to medical facilities and support search and tracing efforts for the affected group.
In an update issued after the rescue operation that closed at 9:00 pm on Friday, July 3, 2026, the humanitarian agency said 16 learners sustained bee stings, with five suffering severe injuries that required urgent medical attention.
“Bee attack at Kambi Samaki Junction, Baringo North: 174 pupils, 8 teachers and 5 drivers from CITAM Woodley Primary (Nairobi) affected during a tour to Lake Baringo. 16 learners stung, 5 severe. Kenya Red Cross provided first aid, medical evacuation and search & tracing support alongside National and County Government.,” the Kenya Red Cross wrote on X.
The organisation confirmed that all the affected pupils had been stabilised.
“All patients stable. Operation closed at 2100Hrs,” the agency added.
No fatalities were reported.
Emergency response
The bee attack triggered panic among pupils, teachers and support staff as they attempted to escape the swarm.
Emergency teams coordinated the medical evacuation of the injured learners while ensuring that all members of the school group were accounted for.
The Kenya Red Cross said the operation concluded later in the evening after confirming that every member of the school delegation had been traced and that those requiring treatment had received medical care.
Authorities have not indicated what may have disturbed the bees or whether the area will be assessed to prevent similar incidents involving tourists and school groups.
Similar incidents
The Baringo incident adds to a series of bee attacks reported in Kenya in recent years, several of which have involved schools.
In July 2023, 49 pupils from KARI D.E.B Primary School in Kisii County were hospitalised after they were attacked by a swarm of bees near the school. Fourteen of the learners suffered severe allergic reactions and required emergency treatment before later stabilising. The incident prompted education officials and parents to call for the relocation of a dumpsite located next to the school, which was believed to have contributed to the attack.
More recently, in May 2026, a swarm of bees invaded Kanyariri Primary School in Kabete, Kiambu County, leaving scores of pupils injured and forcing emergency medical intervention. The incident renewed concerns over preparedness for wildlife-related emergencies in learning institutions.
Earlier this year, a five-year-old boy in Kakamega County died after being attacked by bees while playing at his home, highlighting the potentially fatal consequences of multiple bee stings, particularly among children.