Grade One Pupil Dies After Bee Attack in Homa Bay

A Grade One pupil has died and seven others have been injured after a swarm of bees attacked a group of children in Michacha Village, Samba Sub-location, Suba South Constituency, Homa Bay County.

Local authorities say the pupils were playing near their homes when they may have accidentally stirred the insects, prompting the swarm to descend on them. Area Chief Lucas Ocholla said the children were taken to Magunga Level Four Hospital, where seven were treated and discharged. 

One girl, who suffered severe stings, was referred to St Camillus Sori Hospital but later died. Her body was taken to the hospital mortuary. Chief Ocholla urged parents to remain vigilant during the school holidays, warning that unsupervised play in areas where bee colonies are common can put children at risk. 

The incident follows a separate fatal bee attack earlier in October, in which a 38-year-old man, Bernard Omollo, died after disturbing a colony at a neighbour’s farm in Atonik Village, Rachuonyo South Sub-county. According to police and Assistant Chief Monica of Kadel Kamigigo Sub-location, Omollo, who had a history of mental illness, sustained multiple stings and died on 1 October.

Although bee attacks are uncommon, they can be deadly when swarms are provoked, especially in locations where medical assistance may be limited. Local leaders have called for greater awareness to help reduce the risk of similar incidents.