Who should remove the bees along Kenyatta avenue?

Last week, Mtaa Wangu featured the story of Alex Njeru, who was stung by a bee while on his way to Huduma Centre from the Posta Offices—an experience he says he will never forget.

George Muhia, a boda boda operator along that route, confirmed the worst when he pointed to a pole with Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras facing both sides of the busy Kenyatta Avenue.

A swarm of bees sat at the top of the pole, and it appeared they had decided to make this spot their home.

Given their large numbers and strategic position in the heart of the city centre, it seemed only a matter of time before they caused the kind of harm they did earlier this year near Gilani Supermarket and the former Chicken Baristo Restaurant.

On November 3, Mtaa Wangu shared this grim reality with the public, sparking fear among those who read the story.

Some, like Wesley Snipez Westleigh, reminisced about the ordeal they experienced during the previous bee attack near Gilani's.

“Izi zimewai nivamia apo Gilanis, siku izi io route siwezi ingia,” he commented on our Facebook post.

In a phone interview, Sarah Karemi, the Bee Keeping Officer at the County Government, addresses the delicate matter at hand.

“I have been to the location and assessed the situation. The bees in question are what we classify as wild bees, and for us, we don’t deal with such species. We focus on a different variety,” she explains.

The Bee Keeping Officer went on to say, “In such cases, we seek the help of private-sector companies, such as Rentokil Pest Control, who are trained professionals with the necessary equipment to safely remove the bees. This service, of course, comes at a fee. The reason we rely on them is that they are experts in handling such situations."

She concludes by assuring the public that they are aware of the situation and are working to safely remove the bees from the city centre as soon as possible.