The Ministry of Health has ordered supermarkets, banks and all public and private institutions to provide sanitation facilities for free to their clients.
The Director of Public Health, Kepha Ombacho, has said the ministry had noted that most supermarkets in the country do not have toilets and those that have charge clients a fee.
"All supermarkets should have sanitation facilities accessible by clients. The ministry shall not allow management to charge clients because we are running away from open defecation. Those that will not comply will be closed.
He added, "Management should therefore decide on whether they are running sanitation business or selling products," Ombacho was quoted by the Standard.
Speaking during global hand-washing day commemoration held at Hyrax Primary School in Nakuru, Ombacho announced the Ministry of Health is conducting a crackdown to revoke licences of institutions that lack decent sanitation facilities for their clients.
He asked county governments to ensure there are accessible toilets, among other sanitation facilities in public places, to eliminate diseases attributed to poor sanitation.
"Counties should find mechanisms of preventing diseases and educate the public on preventive measures to diseases," said Ombacho.
He remarked the move aimed at reducing the number of illness like cholera, diarrhoea and pneumonia, caused by poor sanitation.