Over 50 people among them 12 children were admitted in critical condition at Longisa County Referral Hospital while more than 200 others were treated at their homes in what has been described as food poisoning.
Locals who spoke to reporters at Tabook Village in Mutarakwa Ward said the victims started complaining after consuming food that was being served to mourners.
David Chepkwony said immediately after the funeral service, mourners were served with rice and beef stew but before long, some started complaining of abdominal pain.
County disaster management officer Stanley Mutai said his team arrived at the village past midnight to find several people complaining.
“We immediately called in all the six ambulances to ferry those who were critical to hospital for specialized treatment,” Mutai said.He said by 6:00 am on Friday, 29 women, 9 men and 14 children had been admitted in Longisa.
The 14 children, 29 women and nine men were part of a group of mourners who had attended a funeral.
County Health executive Joseph Sitonik said the affected started complaining of abdominal pain and vomitting at around 12 am.
Health officials visited the village to treat the affected.
“We received the reports and mobilised our officers who assessed the situation before calling ambulances to ferry the patients to hospital,” Sitonik said.
Investigations have been launched into the incident.
The meat is suspected to have been contaminated while cooking or the animal might have been slaughtered in an unhygienic environment.