The Nakuru county public health and sanitation department has banned fresh feed outlets, open air food kiosks, mkokoteni water vendors, food and fresh fruit hawking as a measure to curb a cholera alert in Gilgil sub-county.
This was announced by county public health Director Dr Samuel King’ori who led a senior county delegation in Gilgil on Monday where more than 7 cases were reported in the informal settlement of Kasarani.
He said that the move was arrived at after an emergency meeting was converged by relevant authorities at the sub-county headquarters with an aim of avoiding further spread of the disease.
“We regret the inconvenience but all in all, we will do anything possible to ensure that no more cases are reported because it is our responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy society,” he told reporters when he visited Kasarani yesterday.
King’ori further called on the residents to adhere to the directive banning specific businesses until when the disease will be well contained arguing that the move was not meant to lock anybody out of business.
This is not the first time the department is taking such a move after previously banning fresh food selling across the county three months ago but a section of the residents accuse the authorities of laxity in implementing the directive.
“The problem is, they say and go, nobody comes back to oversee the implementation of such a directive, the time has come for them to walk their talk because we are past the era when people still die of such diseases that can be controlled,” noted Anne Njenga, a resident.
Three victims died while five others with cholera symptoms were transferred to Gilgil sub-county hospital and are under special care because of the seriousness of the disease but King’ori assured the residents of their commitment to dealing with the issue.