A three-year-old girl died in Kakamega County after eating a potentially toxic cassava meal.

Four of her siblings are being treated at the Matungu sub-county hospital after consuming cassava prepared by their mother.

Stellah Shiundu, their grandmother who was also affected by the toxic meal, was treated and discharged.

Mr Okiya Kasamani’s family from Chanda village in Khalaba sub-location bought the cassava from a neighbor for Sh30 and boiled it for lunch on Saturday.

The five children and their grandmother, Stellah Shiundu, began complaining of stomach pains and vomiting around 3 p.m.

They took painkillers, which did not help, and they became critically ill in the middle of the night and were rushed to Khalaba health centre before being transferred to Matungu sub-county hospital.

Ms. Dolphin Shiundu, the children’s mother, said the six members of the family were admitted to the hospital around 3 a.m.

Her daughter died while receiving treatment.

Despite eating the cassava meal, the other members of the family of eight showed no signs of illness.

Doctors at the hospital said the four children were not in danger.

Kevin Lumwachi, Matungu sub-county public health officer, stated that the children and their grandmother had suffered from cassava poisoning.

“Apart from the youngest who succumbed, the rest responded well to medication and are out of danger,” said Mr. Lumwachi.