Over 30 Pupils Hospitalised After Suspected Mango Poisoning at Kitale School
More than 30 Grade 4 learners from Big Tree Comprehensive School in Kitale were admitted to hospital on Thursday after experiencing severe symptoms believed to stem from eating contaminated mangoes.
The incident unfolded when a single pupil shared two mangoes with several classmates during school hours. Within a short time, 31 children began reporting intense abdominal pain and other signs of distress, leading school staff to urgently arrange their transfer to a medical facility for immediate attention.
The affected pupils were taken to Wamalwa Kijana Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kitale, where doctors provided treatment including intravenous fluids and medication to manage the suspected food poisoning. Preliminary assessments suggest the mangoes may have been exposed to harmful pesticides or other chemicals, though laboratory tests on fruit samples are underway to pinpoint the precise cause. Health workers have confirmed that the children are responding well to care and remain under monitoring.
The episode has raised fresh alarm among parents and education stakeholders about the safety of home-brought snacks in schools. Local authorities have launched an investigation, and officials are urging families and institutions to emphasise proper fruit washing and caution with produce sources. Fortunately, no life-threatening complications have occurred, and many of the pupils are expected to recover fully and return home shortly.
