Cassava meal kills one, leaves 10 hospitalised

By Lawrence Aluru

Siaya, Kenya:  A meal of cassava served for dinner on Tuesday has left one person dead and 10 other family members in a critical condition.

In the family, a three year-old died on the spot while the others were admitted at Yala sub-district hospital in Siaya County.

Among those admitted is Esther Nyangweso, 70, who is said to have eaten premature cassava that she had prepared for supper.

Siaya police boss Mr Stephen Cheteka who confirmed the incident, said that such an incident is common in the area especially at this time when there is hunger.

“Investigations are on to find out what transpired at the time of the incidence that almost killed everyone in the family,” he said.

He said that those rushed to the hospital included the girl’s father and mother. The old woman is the grandmother to the deceased.

Area Assistant Chief Tom Aruwa said the incident occurred at 7pm in the home of the granny who had been visited by her neighbours.

Those who visited her home with an aim of buying few items from her were members of her larger extended family.

“The woman sells small household and food items and the family members found the boiled cassava,” he said.

Aruwa said that they immediately started complaining of stomach ache after they had eaten the cassava and were then rushed to the hospital by good Samaritans.

However, when they reached the hospital, the little girl was pronounced dead.

The other 10 victims are still in a critical condition at the hospital where they are undergoing treatment.

The incident of people dying from consumption of poisonous cassava is not new to the district.

In June last year, two siblings died while nine other members of their family had to be rushed to hospital after eating the cassava in Nyabeda sub-location.

Cassava is grown by many residents of Gem and neighbouring Siaya Districts as a major food crop especially during dry seasons since it is drought-resistant and the residents use it as a means of alleviating hunger.