Seven children from Haji Farm in Subukia, Nakuru county have been admitted at the Bahati Sub-County Hospital after consuming wild mushrooms suspected to be poisonous on Tuesday evening.

The seven who are currently stable are said to have foraged mushrooms from the farm as usual after school and after eating they developed abdominal pains and vomiting. 

According to the father of the seven Fredrick Kamau, mushrooms have been their daily meal after poor harvest in the last season.

“This is what we normally consume, we do not have food and sometimes children bring that and we cook, it is sad that it has affected them in this way,” said Kamau. 

Kamau said he suspects the mushroom might have been poisonous, adding that it is hard to differentiate between the harmful and the edible ones.   

“They are now fine, they were vomiting, and it became worse. We had to take them to a dispensary before being transferred to Bahati,” he said. 

Kevin Waweru, one of the children, said they began vomiting before they were rushed to hospital.  

Bahati Sub-County Hospital matron Lucy Kinanu while confirming the incident said the children are now stable and will soon be discharged.

According to Kinanu, if not properly identified, mushrooms picked in the wild can make one very ill and could be lethal, cautioning locals against picking all types.

“Cooking or boiling wild mushrooms does not make them safe to eat, always consult experts,” said Kinanu.