Patrick Barasa, 51, was beaten by a snake in his Kiriko village home as he returned to his house after answering a call of nature in the nearby bush. He was rushed to Kocholia district hospital where he died seven hours later owing to lack of anti-snake venom serum, which is not available in most hospitals in Busia county.
There was a pandemonium as Father Joseph Dome of Kocholia Parish delivered a sermon when mourners abandoned him and dashed towards the grave where the snake had been spotted. The mourners killed the seven-inch snake and carried it to the astonished priest who looked perplexed by the bizarre incident. Villagers believe that the snake is the one that killed Barasa since it had no teeth.
Addressing mourners yesterday at St Mathew Catholic Church in Amagoro, Fr Dome asked Christians who keep snakes to invite him for special prayers before killing the "domestic animals". He stunned worshipers when he asked whoever is keeping snakes in Amagoro to raise up their hands but none did that although it is believed that some people keep snakes for ritual purposes.
Malaba South Ward Councillor, Fobian Isogol blamed the government on death of many people in rural areas for failing to availanti-snake bite drugs to health institutions. Area Chief, Ernest Otwani warned residents against claims that the snake that killed Barasa and which was later killed was kept by one of the villagers. A resident of Amagoro, Alfred Juma was two times lucky when he was bitten by a snake in a spate of four months. He was a victim of the same serpent in October last year and survived. Last Friday the snake bit him again in his house and survived after he was treated at Kocholia District hospital.
