Kenya’s 13 venomous snakes and quest for locally made antivenom

A 26-year-old man from Ngomeni in Mwingi North, Kitui County, is nursing injuries after he was bitten by a snake on his genitals. Bernard Kyalo, who recounted his close shave with death when a cobra attacked him as he was relieving himself, is now demanding compensation from the ..

✨ Key Highlights

A recent snakebite incident in Kitui County, Kenya, where a 26-year-old man was bitten on the genitals, highlights the escalating concern over venomous snakes and the critical shortage of antivenom in the region.

Kenya faces an estimated 30,000 snakebite cases annually, leading to approximately 2,000 deaths.
The Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPR) is developing East Africa's first locally made antivenom, expected within two years.
Kenya is home to at least 13 venomous snake species, including Black Mambas, Puff Adders, and various Cobra species, with venom varying significantly even within the same species.