Residents hurt as swarm of bees invades Voi town for three hours

A traditional Bee Hive in Marigat taken on 25th February 2015. PHOTO;WILBERFORCE OKWIRI

Residents were yesterday thrown into a panic after a swarm of bees invaded Voi central business district.

The bees attacked locals, leaving many with painful stings.

The invasion spread over the entire town located along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa highway, forcing hundreds of traders to scamper for safety.

A physically challenged man was not lucky as he was attacked and seriously injured by the bees. He is still recuperating at the Voi County Referral Hospital as scores of others were treated and discharged.

Business in the town was temporarily paralysed as dozens of shops, hotels and hardware stores were closed down as people sought refuge in closed rooms to avoid the attack.

Bata Street, one of the busiest in the town, remained virtually a no–go zone as bees held a three-hour siege.

The thick swarm of bees settled on an ailing Mzee Mwashimba and blanketed him from head to toe as he screamed for help.

PROTECTIVE NET

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel who drove past threw a protective net over the old man to save him from the insects.

The bees left the old man writhing in pain. Mr Mwashimba was later rushed to the hospital where he is being treated.

An eyewitness said other residents drenched themselves with paraffin in a bid to repel the insects.

Amina Mghoi, Mwashimba's aunt, said she had attempted to douse herself with kerosene to repel the bees but it did not work.

"The old man just lay helplessly as the bees stung him. He could not escape from the bees because of his age and health condition," added Kevin Machu, a supermarket attendant.

Residents said the bees later spread to other streets in the town, forcing traders to close down their business premises for the better part of Tuesday evening.

Superstitious town folk blamed the bee attack on witchcraft and sorcery.

"It is unheard of for bees to attack a town during the day. The bees were only interested in the disabled man and didn't attack other people," claimed boda boda rider Alex Kizale.

"I wonder why the insects only concentrated on the old man. This is not normal," he reiterated.

Bee attacks have become common in the region. In a recent incident, a middle-aged man drowned while escaping an attack by a swarm of bees.