A 63-year-old woman died after she ate wild honey at Ugoti in Igembe South.
The woman's five grandchildren, who also ate the honey, were some of those admitted with symptoms of food poisoning.
Igembe South Medical Officer Michael Kariuki said Elizabeth Karemu was pronounced dead on arrival at the Nyambene Level Four Hospital.
“They ate the honey from an insect locally known as thamu, which produces a substance that tastes like honey. It is as sweet as bees’ honey. The grandmother cut down a tree with the thamu honey and shared it with her grandchildren,” said Dr Kariuki.
Kariuki said the killer substance had been contaminated with excretion from the insect.
The children, two girls and three boys, are aged between five and 14 years.
“They were brought in with various symptoms, including severe vomiting, abdominal pain and severe diarrhoea. Two of the children were discharged,” Kariuki said.
A total eight members of the family were treated after they developed symptoms of food poisoning.
Three of the children were expected to be discharged yesterday.
