Mysterious Disease Claims Four Lives in Kipevu Matangini in Migadini Changamwe, Mombasa County

A wave of fear has gripped residents of Kipevu Matangini in Changamwe Sub-County, Mombasa, following the deaths of four individuals from a mysterious illness that causes severe body swelling. According to local residents, the victims’ bodies swell dramatically, resembling burns from scalding water, before they succumb to the unidentified disease. The community is now urgently appealing for intervention from both the Ministry of Health and their local Member of Parliament, Hon. Omar Mwinyi Shimbwa.

Edwina Adero, a resident affectionately known as "Mama Daktari," reported that three people died from the illness yesterday, with a fourth death confirmed today. Two others exhibiting similar symptoms described as extreme swelling akin to an "elephant body" have been rushed to a local hospital for treatment. "The situation is dire," Adero said. "We need immediate action from the Ministry of Health at both the national and county levels to investigate and contain this disease before it claims more lives."

Residents, including Salim Mohammed Abdalla, described the horrifying condition of the victims, noting that the bodies appear as though they had been dead for days, covered in severe sores resembling burns. "It looks like they’ve been burnt, but it’s a disease," Abdalla said. "Once it affects someone, death follows abruptly. We’re scared, and we don’t know how to handle this."

Despite the growing panic, residents claim that no assistance has been forthcoming from the Ministry of Health, leaving the community feeling abandoned. They are now turning to their area MP, Hon. Omar Mwinyi Shimbwa, for urgent support, including transport for the affected and guidance on handling the deceased to prevent further spread of the disease.

The lack of clarity about the illness has heightened fears in Kipevu Matangini a ward within Changamwe Constituency, an urban area critical to Kenya’s economy due to its proximity to the Moi International Airport and the Port of Mombasa. The community is calling for rapid deployment of health experts and laboratory technologists to identify the cause of the outbreak and provide medical support.

This incident follows reports of other mysterious diseases in Kenya and the region, including a 2024 outbreak in Kisii County, where nine people died and over 80 were bedridden, initially suspected to be a severe form of malaria. However, no direct connection has been established with the current situation in Kipevu Matangini.

The Ministry of Health has yet to issue an official statement regarding the outbreak in Changamwe. Meanwhile, residents are urging swift action to prevent further loss of life and to address the growing health crisis in their community.