An eight-year-old child died after being bitten by a snake while playing with other children at his family compound in Marsabit County.
The incident occurred on Monday morning in Haro Village, Dirib Location, officials said. The incident was reported to police by the child’s father.
Police officers, accompanied by Kenya Wildlife Service officers, visited and documented the scene following the child’s death, police said.
The snake was found alive and was collected by KWS officers.
The child’s body was buried immediately in accordance with the family’s customs.
KWS officials advised the child’s family to file a compensation claim.
Snake bites are reported in some rural areas amid efforts to address the risk.
Officials have been running campaigns in affected areas on the measures to take in the event of such an incident.
Meanwhile, police in Nyamira County are investigating the death of a 14-year-old boy who had earlier reported an assault and later died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Kisii.
The deceased died on August 14 at about 2.15 pm while undergoing treatment at Mediforte Hospital in Kisii Town.
Police said the minor had reported an assault on July 29, with the case still under investigation when he died.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the minor first sought treatment at Mediforte Hospital on July 29, complaining of back pain.
On August 11, he returned to the same hospital seeking treatment following the reported assault and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, where he remained for three days.
He died on August 14, police said.
Police said there were no visible physical injuries on the body when officers examined it at the mortuary.
The body was moved to Ram Hospital mortuary for preservation, while the scene and available information were documented.
Police are awaiting a postmortem examination to establish the cause of death and determine whether it was connected to the earlier reported assault.
The investigations into the deaths are being handled separately, officials said.
Elsewhere, police in Kirinyaga launched investigations into the death of a 40-year-old man whose body was found beside a feeder road near a church in Kiunga Village, Mwea West Sub-County.
The body of Joseph Gachau Kariuki was discovered at about 10 am on Monday, August 17, near the fence of ACK Kiunga Church in Kiunga Sub-location, Kinyaga Location.
Kariuki’s body was found lying beside the feeder road.
A preliminary examination indicated that he had multiple bruises on both hands, although the circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear.
Crime Scene Investigation officers from Kerugoya processed and documented the scene before the body was removed to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Detectives are expected to use the post-mortem findings and other evidence to establish the cause and circumstances of Kariuki’s death.
