‘Snake Man’ attacked by a cobra in Kirinyaga

KIRINYAGA, Kenya, Jun 25 – Peterson Ngure found himself in hospital battling for his life, following an attack by man’s foremost enemy; the serpent.

Though the circumstances of his near death experience surprised even him, news that the self proclaimed snake handler from Kirinyaga has been harbouring the slithering creatures at his home for nearly 10 years has left his closest friends and neigbours in shock.

Prior to his attack, Ngure who spoke to Shahidi News shortly after being discharged from hospital, said that though the biblical rivalry of man and serpent had initially dissuaded him from rearing snakes, he decided to master his fear and become what he claims to be a snake charmer.

It was while being hospitalized at Kimbimbi Sub-County hospital, battling the venomous grip of the snake’s bite for a week that his secret was made public.

“I was attacked by the seven foot Cobra while I was in my house,” said Ngure who further revealed that, ”It bit me near my private parts. This has never happened to me for the past 10 years I’ve been interacting with snakes.”

This particular Cobra, Ngure said, he managed to capture while visiting a nearby rice plantation.

Local farmers had expressed concern that their lives were in constant danger, as some often stayed clear in areas believed to be full of the venomous animals.

“We were surprised that the snake had turned on him,” said one farmer who had initially sought his help.

The Cobra, authorities said was found after the attack.

Though, once bitten, twice shy, Ngure intends to snake his way past his adversity insisting that he will again charm his way to further understanding the animals.

The 25 year-old also aims to establish a snake park in the area.

For his dream to become a reality, he will have to obtain a license from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and provide certification of relevant training, exhibiting that he is capable of handling the snakes.

Locals now flocking his home to see his “other snakes” are also rooting for him to have a snake park, or at least employed by KWS to rescue them from the animals.