Kajiado, Kenya: More than five primary schools in Kajiado Central risk closure due to a strange stinging caterpillar that has wrecked havoc in homes, schools, fields and farms.
The insects, locally known as Kunchu, cause skin irritation and itching and has forced some locals to relocate to safer places.
The outbreak of the little known insect has affected Ndalalakutu and Olobelibel locations.
According to Veronicah Njuguna, the head teacher of Lelei Primary School, the tiny insects’ effect is so bad that for the last three weeks learning has been disrupted, as pupils and teachers find it difficult to concentrate.
“We do not have a proper solution to this tiny insect whose effect is so grave at larva and pupa stages. It emits some invisible chemicals or structures that would leave those it lands on scratching the affected part of the body for hours,” said Ms Njuguna.
She adds that the painful irritations make teachers and pupils scratch themselves in any part of the body leading to embarassments.
The tiny hairy caterpillar is about two centimetres in length and feeds on different types of plant leaves ranging from maize, weeds, acacia tree and some flowers among other plants.
It is yet to be established whether it uses the hairy structures or a certain chemical to attack human beings. “We think this animal uses some form of chemical or its hairy structures that are left in air, dust and other wall surfaces that later affect humans,” said the teacher.
When it matures, the caterpillar undergoes a metamorphosis to become an adult. In the five schools that we visited Tuesday including Emanyat, Esilale, Olchurai and Oloomunyi primary schools, locals have come up with temporary solutions to reduce the effect.
They use wood ash, methylated spirit, paraffin and other chemicals to sprinkle on wall surfaces.
Those affected and taken to hospital for medication said medics could not find a remedy for the insect assaults.
Tuesday, Kajiado County Commissioner Albert Kobia led experts from Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and ICIPE among others to visit the schools and establish the real problem.
“We are working hand in hand to solve this problem,” said Mr Kobia.
Boniface Ndevi of Kari said they have collected the samples to establish what the strange insects are. “For the many years I have been a researcher, I have not seen this kind of species and we are working out to establish its nature,” said Mr Ndevi. Kajiado County education director Mrs Lucy Kachu said the problem might interfere with the performance in end of year exams.
