Editor's Review
The Ministry of Health has issued food safety guidelines to households, food vendors and residential estates ahead of expected El Niño-enhanced rainfall in the coming weeks.
The State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards has issued food safety guidelines to households, food vendors and residential estates ahead of expected El Niño-enhanced rainfall in the coming weeks.
In a statement on Monday, September 28, the department said the Kenya Meteorological Department had issued an alert on the expected rains, warning that previous El Niño seasons had been associated with increased risks of food-borne illnesses.
"The Kenya Meteorological Department has issued an alert on expected El Niño enhanced rainfall in the coming weeks. Past El Niño seasons have shown that heavy rains, flooding and high humidity lead to a sharp rise in food-borne illnesses such as cholera, typhoid and aflatoxin poisoning," the statement read.
The department urged households, food vendors and estates to begin preparations before the rains arrive, noting that early preventive measures would help reduce health risks during the rainy period.
It warned that flood water could mix with sewage and contaminate shallow wells, boreholes and piped water, particularly in low-lying areas.
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The department also cautioned that high humidity could accelerate the growth of mould on maize, peanuts and animal feeds, increasing the risk of aflatoxin contamination.
Power outages expected during the rainy season could also disrupt cold-chain storage, leading to the spoilage of milk, meat and leftovers kept in refrigerators and freezers.
Major markets may also be affected by flooding, exposing food products to dirty water, mud and flies.
To protect water supplies, households have been advised to stock WaterGuard and chlorine tablets, clean and cover water storage tanks and jerry cans, and prepare a separate clean and covered container specifically for drinking water.
The department advised households to ensure maize flour, maize grains, groundnuts and beans are completely dry before storing them off the floor on pallets or shelves in airtight containers.
Households with old cereal stocks from the previous season were advised to sun-dry them before the rains begin.
The department further urged families to prepare their kitchens by buying airtight containers for leftovers and stocking soap, handwash and sanitizers, noting that handwashing remains a key defence against food-borne diseases.
Food businesses and food vendors, including mama mbogas, were advised to raise food off the ground and keep it covered, while also ensuring proper drainage around their stalls.
Food handlers were also advised to have their medical certificates ready as county inspections are expected to increase during the rainy season.
Families with children under five and elderly members were urged to pay particular attention to hygiene, including teaching children to wash their hands with soap before eating.
The department also called on Community Health Promoters (CHPs) and Nyumba Kumi leaders to take preventive action in their communities before the rains begin.
"We urge you to organize clean-up of drainage, unclogging of trenches, and community sensitization on boiling water before the onset of rains," the statement added.
Meanwhile, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued a 14-day deadline for the completion of critical drainage and road works as the city prepares for intensified El Niño rains.
Speaking on Thursday, September 24, Sakaja said the ongoing interventions were aimed at reducing the risk of flooding in vulnerable parts of Nairobi and called on Nairobi City County and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) engineers and contractors to accelerate the works.
"I have urged Nairobi City County and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) engineers and contractors to expedite critical El Niño preparedness interventions, as the city has a 14-day window to complete ongoing drainage and road works before the rains intensify," he said
Sakaja said teams from the county government and KURA had been directed to identify areas that were most vulnerable to flooding and prioritise them as ongoing infrastructure works continued.
"Together with KURA Director-General Eng. Silas Kinoti, County and KURA engineers, and contractors, we have tasked teams to identify and prioritise flood-prone areas and El Niño hotspots as they undertake ongoing works," he added.
Sakaja said the drainage and road projects could no longer be treated as ordinary maintenance works, given the potential impact of heavy rains on residents and infrastructure.
"We agreed that the ongoing drainage and road works must now be treated as a life-saving imperative, rather than routine infrastructure maintenance," he further said.
Sakaja further called for closer coordination between county and national government agencies to ensure the works were completed within the 14-day window and measures put in place to protect Nairobi residents.
"Both County and national government agencies must work together to ensure that critical interventions are completed within the available window and that Nairobians are adequately protected," he concluded.
