The cholera outbreak alert has made many fast food vendors in Kisii County to count loses and fail to fend for their families as health officers and local chiefs keep vigil.
Vendors who talked to this writer at Itumbe market in Samet Sub-county, lamented that the cholera outbreak alert had caused them a lot loses, since they were not allowed to sell their cooked foods in the markets as they fear being arrested by local chiefs and public health officers.
They claimed that, the officers allegedly position themselves in strategic positions in the markets, monitoring the situation from a distance, while others pose as customers before turning against the vendors with arrest threats.
"The cholera outbreak alert in this region has really affected us. We feed our families by selling foods on the streets. With the ban, our merry-go-round contributions have collapsed and those we had already given our money do not come to the markets due to lack of food vending business," stated Gladys Bonareri
The vendors challenged public health officers to educate and guide them on the required hygiene and sanitation standards, to enable them continue doing their business without interruptions.
Another omena vendor, identified as Mary Bochere regretted that her stock of omena was lying in the house, since she cannot go to the market, fearing being arrested by local chiefs and public health officers who disguise themselves as customers especially in the evenings.