Roy Lumbe @lumbe_roy

One more person died yesterday, bringing the number of people who perished after eating githeri in Elmaine village, Ilchamus in Baringo county on Friday, to three. 

Six people are admitted to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret.

Head of admissions at Baringo Referral Hospital Hellen Mumbi said they suspected the victims ate food which contained organophosphate (an insecticide).

“One more person died while receiving treatment Saturday afternoon while four others have been referred to MTRH for further examination and treatment.The rest are, however, stable. I suspect the victims might have consumed food laced with organophosphate poison,” said Mumbi.

Preliminary reports had indicated the food may have been contaminated by aflatoxin.

Baringo County Commissioner Henry Wafula said samples of the food had been taken to government chemist for tests.

“We are treating this as a police case as the victims were in good health before they ate the meal. We have started investigation to establish what happened,” said Wafula.

Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis asked the police to speedily investigate the incident and bring those behind the deaths to book.

Stomach pains

“I need to appeal to the investigative agencies to work with speed and ensure all those behind the poisoning are apprehended and charged,” said Kiptis.

According to the governor, 17 people who were working at a farm were rushed to the hospital complaining of stomach pains and vomiting after eating a meal.

County Health Executive Mary Panga said the county government was working with the police to probe the matter.

“We are working to ensure no more lives are lost,” she said.