Snake ‘charm’ attempt goes wrong

Hamisi Chiboga, famously known as Manyoka, plays with his snakes at his home. The man, who has been a ‘friend’ of snakes for over 10 years, was bitten by a green mamba on Christmas Day. [PHOTO: TOBIAS CHANJI/STANDARD]

Tragedy struck a famous snake charmer in Diani on Christmas Day when he was bitten by a snake he was trying to get out of a neighbour’s house.

Hamisi Chiboga, also known as Manyoka because of his widespread fame with snakes, was summoned by the terrified neighbour who saw a green mamba slither into his house.

He was, however, bitten by the snake and had to be rushed to Diani Beach Hospital where he received treatment but is now being held for failing to pay a Sh48,000 bill.

“My neighbour called me because he needed my assistance. I have experience in handling snakes and it is not uncommon for people to call me when they find reptiles in their homes,” Manyoka said.

Lethal bite

“But I was unlucky this time as the snake bit my right hand,” Manyoka told The Standard from his hospital bed.

From his knowledge of snakes, Manyoka knew a bite from a green mamba was lethal and that he only had 90 minutes to live.

“It took me 20 minutes to get to the road and I opted not to go to the cheaper Msambweni Hospital because I feared the long wait as it is a public facility. I chose to come here so I could be attended to immediately,” he said.

He was immediately given anti-venom medication for three days and was to be discharged on Saturday but he was unable to clear his bill.

Despite being given a clean bill of health, Manyoka is a distressed man and we found him trying to contact various politicians to help him clear his bill, which is growing by Sh5,000 per night.

It is ironical that the man who has lived with snakes for the last 10 years should now find himself in trouble because of one.

Poisonous snakes

In a previous interview with The Standard, Manyoka took us round his ‘Jungle Park’ where he has sub-divided his homestead into various sections and keeps chameleons, tortoise and snakes.

The snake section has been partitioned into smaller cubicles where he pets and juggles some of the world’s most poisonous snakes in a skill he has also taught his three children and wife.

Before starting this venture that is now a source of income for him, Manyoka told us he used to kill snakes until he realised the reptiles also need life.

He has since then sought advice from experts and actively read books to further his knowledge of reptiles.