- Sixteen pupils from CITAM Woodley Primary School were injured after a swarm of bees attacked their school tour group in Baringo North.
- Five learners suffered severe allergic reactions and were rushed to hospital for treatment.
- The incident has renewed calls for greater caution during educational tours in areas with high bee populations.
Sixteen pupils from CITAM Woodley Primary School in Nairobi were injured after a swarm of bees attacked their school tour group at Kambi Samaki in Baringo North Sub-county.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the group comprised 174 pupils, eight teachers and five drivers who were on an educational tour of the Lake Baringo region when the incident occurred.
The bees reportedly descended on the group unexpectedly, causing panic as learners and teachers scrambled for safety.
Witnesses said several pupils sustained bee stings during the attack.
The Kenya Red Cross confirmed that 16 pupils were injured, with five suffering severe allergic reactions that required urgent medical attention.
Emergency response teams from the humanitarian agency, working alongside county and national government officials, administered first aid before evacuating the affected learners to nearby health facilities.
Most of the pupils were treated at a health facility in Marigat and later discharged after receiving medical care.
The Kenya Red Cross later confirmed that all the affected learners were in stable condition and that no fatalities had been reported.
A region known for bee swarms
The incident has renewed concerns over recurring bee swarm attacks in the Lake Baringo region, one of Kenya’s leading honey-producing areas.
Baringo County is home to more than 135,000 beehives, making encounters with aggressive bee swarms relatively common, particularly when colonies are disturbed by human activity, wildlife or changing weather conditions.
Over the years, bee attacks have occasionally disrupted normal activities around Lake Baringo.
In Kabarnet Town, swarms have previously forced traders to temporarily close businesses after bees invaded public spaces.
In one notable incident, a swarm settled on a motorcycle parked near Kabarnet’s main bus terminus, triggering panic among traders and residents and forcing businesses to close until the insects dispersed.
Previous incidents
In July 2021, a swarm of bees disrupted the annual Rhino Charge motorsport event in the Sabor area near Marigat after a competing vehicle accidentally struck a wild beehive.
The bees attacked spectators and participants, forcing hundreds of people to flee for safety.
Among those affected was former Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis, who escaped alongside spectators while some people jumped into a nearby seasonal river to avoid the aggressive swarm.
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Authorities have urged schools, tour operators and visitors to exercise caution when visiting areas known for high bee populations and to seek guidance from local officials and wildlife experts before undertaking outdoor activities.
By Philip Koech
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