At least 13 people have died after consuming wild honey locally known as Nchuura in Tharaka Nithi county in the last two years. Since 2019, Tharaka North constituency hits headlines as people die and scores hospitalized following the same. Nchuura is not made by common bees but by a species of smaller ones locally known as tuchuura, which do not sting and mainly live in hollow tress or abandoned burrows in the ground. Locals believe that the honey which is eaten raw, is medicinal and it is highly sought after, especially by pastoralists. The locals say Nchuura is sweeter than the normal honey and they cannot resist its sweetness despite it being deadly.

Source: Daily Nation May 20, 2024 01:06 UTC