Tragedy as four children die after consuming cassava

Residents of Uhuru village of Bar-Agulu Sub-location in Alego/Usonga Sub-County are mourning the death of four children of the same family who lost their lives after consuming poisonous parts of a cassava.

The four children aged between 8 and 17 years reportedly uprooted the cassava in a farm where they were working Saturday morning and proceeded to eat it.

According to their father Sylvanus Ouma Otieno, the children started complaining of stomachache at around 9.00 pm Saturday night.

The father, who was speaking to Radio Ramogi at the Siaya County Referral Hospital mortuary, stated that the younger boy was the first to complain of a stomachache and was rushed to the nearby Ashburn Community dispensary.

Sylvanus, who is a teacher at Ojola Primary School in the neighboring sub-county of Gem, added that the rest soon began complaining of stomach pains and were rushed to the same institution.

The hospital administered first aid to the children before referring them to Siaya County Referral Hospital where the four succumbed, save for one who is currently responding to treatment at the same facility.

Siaya OCPD Ancient Kaloki confirmed the incident and revealed that the bodies are currently lying at the Siaya County Referral Hospital as investigations begin into the matter.