The Ministry of Health has ordered a crackdown on all butcheries selling uninspected meat to members of the public.
Speaking on Sunday, October 26, in Nairobi, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni directed public health officers to heighten surveillance on unscrupulous butcheries bypassing inspection of meat by authorized officers.
“I want to ask all public health officers to get to work and close down all butcheries that sell meat that has not been inspected.
“You may not get illnesses at home, but you can easily get sick from meat bought at a butchery,” said Muthoni.
PS Muthoni also noted that in the coming weeks, until after Christmas, families will have gatherings that will require the slaughtering of animals.
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She cautioned Kenyans against slaughtering sick animals, warning that doing so could expose them to the same diseases.
“I want to send a warning, let us not eat uninspected meat during this period. Don’t go home, find that your chicken or cow is weak, and decide to slaughter it. We don’t want our hospitals to be full this season,” she stated.
Further, PS Muthoni urged Kenyans to seek medical attention at hospitals whenever they feel unwell, and to avoid buying medicine from chemists before visiting a health facility.
At the same time, the PS said the closure of schools for the long holiday puts children in danger of drug consumption if they are not engaged in activities that build their skills.
She mentioned that the Ministry of Health is implementing a directive to have more graphic warnings on nicotine products to discourage children from using them.
This comes weeks after authorities in Bomet County uncovered a case of illegal meat supply after a hotel was found serving flamingo meat to unsuspecting customers.
In a statement on September 24, the Bomet County Government said the discovery was made during a surprise visit to the joint.
"The Department of Health Services, Public Health, led by the Chief Officer for Health Felix Langat and the Director Public Health Leonard Lang'at made an impromptu visit to a hotel operating in Bomet town for an inspection and found Flamingo meat, which has been a trend selling to its residents," the county stated.
The county government confirmed that the establishment was immediately shut down and the suspect taken into custody.
