Food vendors in Kikuyu sub-county have been given a stern warning against operating without public health permits.
Speaking in her office today, the Deputy Public Health officer, Alice Kinuthia, said that most of the food vendors breaking the law were those who target casual labourers working in construction sites in the area.
She added that most of them come during lunch hour with readymade food from their homes and have different spots where they serve their customers.
The officer further explained that such vendors are breaking the law as they know what is required but not to follow the law by acquiring permits.
Kinuthia said that the office has worked closely with food operators by conducting sessions where they educate these operators on what is required in their businesses.
“The efforts we’ve put across are evident that such cases are as a result of ignorance. I therefore send a warning to all food operators in the region to ensure they are operating legally by acquiring public health permits from the office,” she said.
Kinuthia said that despite their hard work on educating vendors on what is required to attain a health permit, most of them are still ignorant and continue breaking the law.
She however urged area residents to participate by reporting such cases as these operations are for the good of their health. Eugene Opere, an owner of a local hotel in Kikuyu town, said a public health permit was a requirement before he started his business. He explained that he got assistance from a public health staff before he started his business on what he required in order to get authorisation from the office.
Opere hailed the operation saying that his business has recorded low profits in the recent past as residents opt for cheap food that they do not know how and where it was cooked.
The hotel owner explained that people forget that cheap is expensive hence what they eat without any concern may be expensive for them to treat in hospitals.