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Father, son die, three others hospitalised in Siaya suspected food poisoning
What you need to know:
- Neighbours arrived shortly and managed to administer first aid to the affected family members by forcing them to swallow raw eggs to induce vomiting.
- Unfortunately, Ms Adhiambo’s husband and son succumbed, while three other people were rushed to Bondo Sub-County Hospital.
Had 35-year-old Jackline Adhiambo Ojigo joined her family for an evening meal on Wednesday night, she would probably not be alive today to recount what befell her husband and son.
Ms Adhiambo’s husband, Ernest Ojigo Olum, 74, and her son, John Otieno Ojigo, 5, died after consuming what is suspected to be contaminated food at their home in Kanyameno Village, Siaya County, on Wednesday night.
According to Adhiambo, who works as an artisanal miner at a gold mine within Gem Wagai Sub-County, she returned home late on the fateful day. She found her two daughters preparing supper, which comprised ugali and cowpea leaves—popularly known as ‘Kunde.’
After a short rest from a long day’s toil, she proceeded to the bathroom to cool off before joining the rest of the family for dinner.
“No sooner had I completed my bath than I heard them complaining of stomach aches. Everyone was in excruciating pain while holding their stomachs,” she explained.
Ms Adhiambo said she proceeded to the kitchen, where she found her 19-year-old daughter writhing in pain and making incoherent sounds.
“I panicked and asked her what they had eaten. She told me they had eaten nothing other than the ugali and kunde,” Ms Adhiambo explained.
Upon returning to the living room, Adhiambo found her husband groaning and foaming at the mouth.
“It was a scary scene. On the other side, my five-year-old son was also exhibiting similar symptoms. I immediately called for help, with my instincts telling me that it must be poisoning,” she said.
Neighbours arrived shortly and managed to administer first aid to the affected family members by forcing them to swallow raw eggs to induce vomiting.
Unfortunately, Ms Adhiambo’s husband and son succumbed, while three other people were rushed to Bondo Sub-County Hospital.
Ezekiel Ojigo, Ms Adhiambo’s eldest son, suspected that the case of the food poisoning could be connected to what he said was an ongoing dispute over ancestral land, but did not provide more evidence, only saying there was a case in court.
According to West Gem Location Chief, Susan Akoth, the family suspects that the maize flour used in making the ugali might have been poisoned.
Hospital authorities told Nation.Africa that all three people who survived and were admitted to Bondo Sub-County Hospital were responding well to treatment.
“The three include the daughters of the couple: Deborah Adhiambo Ojigo, 19, and Val Adhiambo Ojigo, 2. The third person has been identified as Deborah Auma, 19, a niece,” the hospital administrator said.
Police arrived at the scene and collected suspected food samples. The bodies of the deceased were taken to Bondo Sub-County Hospital Mortuary.
Gem Wagai Sub-County Police Commander Benson Pamba said DCI officers were investigating the matter.
“We shall have a proper comment once we gather concrete information,” said the Sub-County police boss.
