Deadly ‘makua’ is back with venom; will Makueni County survive?

Makueni, Kenya: Huge poisonous snakes known locally as makua were once dreaded in Makueni County for their deadly bite. And despite their decrease, they have recently resurfaced in another form; politics.

When a recent shooting in Makueni County that left five people in Governor Kivutha Kibwana’s crew injured, the reptiles that gave Makueni its name came in handy to describe those suspected to be behind the ignominy. Today, anti-Kibwana members of the County Assembly (MCAs) are nicknamed makua.