By KENAN MIRUKA
Residents of Kenyenya District in
Kisii County were shocked when a
swarm of bees disrupted baptism
ceremony.
New converts, including students
and pupils from local schools, had
converged at a temporary dam
along a stream near Kenyenya
town for the ceremony.
After presiding over a church
service, the pastor shepherded
the converts accompanied by
other worshippers to the site
shortly after 1pm.
As usual, the converts were led
to makeshift changing rooms
emerging later resplendent in
white cloth. Male and female
converts lined up separately as
the pastor, accompanied by a
group of elders, checked the
depth of the water using long
sticks.
Drama started when the first
convert stepped into the water
to dump his old sinful life and
take up a new righteous life. As
the pastor was about to immerse
the convert into water, a swarm
of bees emerged and attacked
everyone. Caught unawares,
worshipers and converts
scampered for safety as others
cried out in pain from the bee
stings.
A stampede ensued as barefoot
converts and the pastor fled to
safety in nearby homes and
surrounding bushes.
Some students, who could not
run fast enough, sustained bee
stings and were rescued by
villagers who rushed to the scene
with blankets to cover them.
The villagers used paraffin to
nurse the bee-stings before
volunteers helped ferry the
students to the hospital. The
injured were rushed to Kenyenya
Sub-District Hospital where they
were treated and discharged.
Church elders held consultations
with the pastor before calling off
the exercise.
News of the incident spread and
parents rushed to the scene to
find out the fate of their
children .
"This is very strange. It appears
some of the converts had not
fully accepted the new life hence
the intervention by the bees,"
argued a local. Others said there
were people with bad spirits
among the converts.
"It is normal for bees to react
when disturbed. Many worshipers
had strong perfumes," said a
teacher.
Residents of Kenyenya District in
Kisii County were shocked when a
swarm of bees disrupted baptism
ceremony.
New converts, including students
and pupils from local schools, had
converged at a temporary dam
along a stream near Kenyenya
town for the ceremony.
After presiding over a church
service, the pastor shepherded
the converts accompanied by
other worshippers to the site
shortly after 1pm.
As usual, the converts were led
to makeshift changing rooms
emerging later resplendent in
white cloth. Male and female
converts lined up separately as
the pastor, accompanied by a
group of elders, checked the
depth of the water using long
sticks.
Drama started when the first
convert stepped into the water
to dump his old sinful life and
take up a new righteous life. As
the pastor was about to immerse
the convert into water, a swarm
of bees emerged and attacked
everyone. Caught unawares,
worshipers and converts
scampered for safety as others
cried out in pain from the bee
stings.
A stampede ensued as barefoot
converts and the pastor fled to
safety in nearby homes and
surrounding bushes.
Some students, who could not
run fast enough, sustained bee
stings and were rescued by
villagers who rushed to the scene
with blankets to cover them.
The villagers used paraffin to
nurse the bee-stings before
volunteers helped ferry the
students to the hospital. The
injured were rushed to Kenyenya
Sub-District Hospital where they
were treated and discharged.
Church elders held consultations
with the pastor before calling off
the exercise.
News of the incident spread and
parents rushed to the scene to
find out the fate of their
children .
"This is very strange. It appears
some of the converts had not
fully accepted the new life hence
the intervention by the bees,"
argued a local. Others said there
were people with bad spirits
among the converts.
"It is normal for bees to react
when disturbed. Many worshipers
had strong perfumes," said a
teacher.
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