Four die after eating ‘toxic’ meat

Nakuru, Kenya: Four people, including a bishop, died in Kenlands estate in Nakuru Town after eating meat that had not been inspected.

The deceased and four survivors are said to have suffered from food poisoning after eating 'mutura' (sausage) and soup' they had bought from a local butchery on Wednesday last week.

Survivors accused health officers in the county of negligence, saying the meat came from a cow that had been treated after displaying anthrax-like symptoms but that later died in Rhonda estate.

The survivors were treated and discharged from various hospitals in Nakuru town after complaining of vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache.

According to Yvonne Atieno, a granddaughter of Bishop Tobias Guya of Church of Christ Africa who died after eating the meat, her grandfather was a frequent customer and a lover of 'mutura' at a popular butchery in the estate.

"The bishop came home at around 5pm on Wednesday but failed to eat supper as he started complaining of a stomach ache," said Atieno, adding that he was vomiting, sweating and had diarrhoea. The bishop was rushed to hospital for treatment but he died

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Joseph Njoroge, a survivor, said he bought the 'mutura' and a cup of soup from Kima Butchery, which has since been closed by the county government, but immediately experienced pain in the stomach. He was treated for food poisoning.

"Immediately after eating the meat, I began vomiting and had a stomach ache. I bought drugs from local pharmacies and stabilised," he said.

Health Executive Kabii Mungai said samples of the meat had been taken to government laboratories to establish the type of poison it contained.

"It is unfortunate that the butcher who was told not to sell the meat ignored the veterinary officer's advice," said Mr Kabii.