The last supper that left family in tears

By Philip MwakioTwo mounds of fresh earth mark Karisa Kahindi Chome's homestead in Mizaleni village in Kilifi County. This is where he recently buried his son and nephew - the latest victims of food shortages stalking thousands at the Coast Province.

Grief beyond words: Njira Mutawala holds her granddaughter, Pendo Charo, 12, who survived the poisonous cassava. Photos: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard

The recent episode has all the hallmarks of tragedy. Chome, a jobless father of ten, had little options when meal-time came. Subsequent failed harvests meant their granary has been empty for as back as they can remember. So when lunchtime approached, as the rains descended, and he excused himself from his toils to prepare a meal for family.
"My wife was away on some errands and I decided to uproot some cassava which I would prepare for the day’s meal," a grieving Chome told The Standard recently.
The family ate the boiled cassava for lunch and spared a little for the children to eat for dinner.
"Later that evening, one of my sons approached me and complained of severe stomach pain," Chome said.
The youngster suffered a running stomach but his condition improved after a while.
Sharp pains"I was not lucky as I also started feeling dizzy in the dead of night, and a rumbling stomach. I felt a sharp pain in my stomach and I started passing watery stool," Chome added.
Things did not improve even after taking a home remedy of hot water and salt, and had to be rushed to the nearby St Luke’s Hospital in Kaloleni.
Six of the children reported similar discomfort and all were rushed to the hospital complaining of stomach pains.
Season of givingTwo of them were not lucky. They succumbed to what medical authorities at the hospital termed as acute food poisoning from cassava.
Chome and four of the children lived to tell the story. Chome lost his seventh born son, Mahenzo Karisa, aged 13 years, and his nephew, Boniface Charo.
Their mourning mothers, Bahati Charo and Jumwa Karisa were inconsolable, wondering why tragedy had to strike the most vulnerable members of the family.
The tragedy appears to have triggered a season of giving. The Shariff Nassir Foundation chairman Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir mobilised assistance for the Chomes.
The Mombasa Maize Millers donated 30 bales of maize flour and assorted foodstuffs.
"It is sad to note that in independent day Kenya, there are people who cannot

Bahati Charo weeps at Kaloleni mortuary in Kilifi County after losing a four-year-old boy.