BARINGO, Kenya — Sixteen pupils were taken to hospital on Friday evening after a swarm of bees attacked a school tour group at Kambi Samaki in Baringo North.
According to the Kenya Red Cross, the group comprised 174 pupils, eight teachers and five drivers from CITAM Woodley Primary School in Nairobi, who were visiting the Lake Baringo area when the incident occurred.
The Kenya Red Cross said 16 pupils were stung during the attack, with five suffering severe reactions that required urgent medical attention.
Witnesses said panic spread among the learners as the bees descended on the group, forcing pupils and teachers to flee for safety.
Emergency response teams from the Kenya Red Cross, working alongside county and national government officials, responded to the scene and assisted the affected learners.
Most of the injured pupils were treated at a health facility in Marigat Town and later discharged.
In an update issued at 9pm, the Kenya Red Cross said all the affected pupils were in stable condition.
Lake Baringo’s large bee population
The incident has drawn attention to the large bee population around Lake Baringo, one of Kenya’s leading honey-producing regions.
Baringo County is estimated to host more than 135,000 beehives, making beekeeping a major economic activity in the area.
Experts say bee swarms can become aggressive when colonies are disturbed by human activity, environmental changes or sudden weather shifts.
Previous bee swarm incidents
Bee attacks have periodically disrupted activities in areas surrounding Lake Baringo.
In Kabarnet, swarms have previously forced traders to close businesses temporarily until the insects dispersed.
One widely reported incident involved a large swarm descending on a motorcycle parked near the town’s main bus terminus, causing panic among traders and pedestrians.
In July 2021, a bee swarm disrupted the annual Rhino Charge motorsport event near Marigat after a competing vehicle accidentally struck a wild beehive.
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The incident forced hundreds of spectators to flee, including then Baringo Governor Stanley Kiptis.
Some spectators reportedly jumped into a nearby seasonal river to escape the attacking bees.
Safety concerns during outdoor activities
Friday’s incident highlights the risks posed by bee swarms in areas with large wild and managed bee populations.
Authorities have not indicated whether additional safety measures will be introduced for school tours and outdoor activities around Lake Baringo, but officials said the affected pupils received prompt medical assistance and are recovering.
