Eight-Year-Old Boy Dies After Puff Adder Bite in Marsabit

Kenya, 20 August 2026 - An eight-year-old boy has died after being bitten by a puff adder at Boruharo village in Dirib Gombo Location, Marsabit Central Sub-County.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) North Regional Office confirmed the incident, saying the venomous snake entered a homestead where children were playing before attacking the boy.

KWS Deputy Director for the North Eastern Region Bakari Chongwa said the child was bitten by the snake and succumbed to the venom shortly before he could be taken to hospital.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by snakebites in northern Kenya, where access to timely treatment and antivenom remains a challenge.

Access to appropriate medical intervention is often hampered by the high cost of antivenom and frequent shortages of the lifesaving medicine in local health facilities.

Nationally, snakebites remain a significant but often underreported public health concern.

In April, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya records more than 19,000 snakebite cases annually, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths and leaving many survivors with long-term disabilities.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with Elhadj As Sy on the sidelines of the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, Mr Duale called for stronger national and international action to address the burden.

He said the government was integrating snakebite management into Universal Health Coverage while strengthening early detection, community-level referral systems and surveillance through the national health information system.

The government is also using hotspot mapping to identify areas at high risk of snakebites and improve the targeting of interventions.

Mr Duale said Kenya was investing in local production of antivenom, with the Kenya Institute of Primate Research advancing locally tailored antivenom targeting snake species found in different regions.

The latest death adds to concerns over the availability of antivenom and emergency care in remote parts of the country, where long distances to health facilities can delay treatment after a venomous snakebite.

Health experts advise victims of snakebites to seek medical attention immediately and avoid traditional remedies or attempts to cut, suck or otherwise manipulate the bite wound.