Panic in Limuru as Swarm of Bees Disrupts Market Activities, Leaves Several Injured
Business came to a halt in Limuru, Kiambu County, on Wednesday afternoon after a sudden swarm of bees descended on a busy marketplace, causing chaos, injuries, and significant financial losses for local traders.
Eyewitnesses said the bees struck around 2:00 p.m., forcing both traders and customers to flee in panic. Many sustained painful stings, while others abandoned their stalls and goods to escape the aggressive swarm. The exact cause or source of the bee invasion remains unclear.
“The bees invaded the marketplace and gave us a hard time. We had to flee for our safety. Look at that one over there—he got stung on the face,” one trader told reporters.
In a desperate effort to repel the bees, some traders lit charcoal stoves to produce smoke—a traditional method believed to calm or drive away bees. After several tense moments, the thick smoke eventually succeeded in dispersing the swarm, allowing people to return.
Despite the reprieve, traders expressed frustration over the financial blow, saying many customers had fled and even walked out of hotels. “Customers even walked out of hotels—they didn’t want to eat,” a trader lamented.
The Limuru incident adds to a growing number of unusual bee attacks reported across Kenya. In a separate event in Kirinyaga County, mourners at a burial ceremony in Huruma Estate, Mwea, were similarly attacked by a swarm of bees, disrupting the funeral and injuring several attendees.
While no fatalities have been reported from either incident, the back-to-back bee attacks have raised concerns among residents and authorities, with many calling for increased awareness and possible investigations into the causes behind the swarms.
Normal operations eventually resumed in Limuru, but the day’s disruption served as a stark reminder of nature’s unpredictability and the need for swift community responses to such emergencies.
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Panic in Limuru as Swarm of Bees Disrupts Market Activities, Leaves Several Injured