A middle-aged man from Lunyito village in Lugari sub location, Lugari Sub County escaped death by a whisker after being saved from a python’s grasp after he had grappled with it for more than three hours inside Lugari forest.
Speaking to West Media, Paul Namisi Kasaya who weaves baskets said he had gone into the forest to fetch palm leaves for his work when the reptile ambushed him. “It was some minutes past 2.00pm but I had to fight with the python for three hours before my brother-in-law arrived to rescue me,” he said.
It was not the first time Kasaya had gone to look for the Wild palm leaves in the same forest but he had never encountered the reptile before. “The python must have followed me stealthily as I ventured deeper into the forest before it attacked, it surrounded me slowly and was about to wrestle me to the ground but I would use a big wooden stick to slow from advancing,” he said.
Kasaya first called his wife to inform her about the ordeal but “she encouraged me to keep on fighting and pray,” he said.
He made another frantic call to Yohana Wanjala, who arrived in the company of a boda-boda operator and saved my life. “The snake had tightened its hold on him, and it could measure up to 30 metres long from my assessment. It was hard rescuing him,” said Mr Wanjala.
Their presence appeared to have threatened the python which would bolt out, slowly slithering deep into the thick forest.
Villagers led by Mzee Moses Mbuya have called on KWS to intervene and ensure the python is removed from the forest. “Let them hunt it down and take it to a museum or a national park since the reptile poses a great danger to our women and children who always
collect firewood in the forest,” said Mr. Mbuya.
