Food hawking in Nairobi streets raises health concern amidst floods intensity
The ongoing heavy rains across the country and mostly in Nairobi County have raised health concerns from the County Assembly.
The calls come amidst floods in the city which have left thousands of people displaced from their homes, and more than ten people have lost their lives, with a good number reported missing.
While urging the administration of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to protect the lives of Nairobi residents, Mountain View Member of County Assembly (MCA) Maurice Ochieng says that there is an emerging trend of hawking food in the streets of Nairobi.
Mr Ochieng, who doubles as Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson says that selling ugali, meat and soup is a matter that needs to be investigated without delay.
He says that the majority of the foodstuff in the streets being consumed by the residents has not been licensed.
“Siku hizi watu wanauza kichwa ya mbuzi (these days, people are selling goat heads) and ugali in the streets. We are urging the County Executive Committee member for Health to move with speed to make sure that there is sanity in town. With this rainy season, we might develop some outbreaks,” Mr Ochieng said.
This comes against the backdrop of a report which was tabled before the County Assembly by the Health Committee, which indicated that most of the restaurants and hotels in Nairobi, as well as street food vendors, were in possession of fake food handlers’ certificates.
Mr Ochieng added that the executive side needs to take precautionary measures as well since the county might start facing waterborne diseases as heavy downpour continues.
According to him, the poor drainage system, and blocking of sewer lines pose serious health ramifications among the residents.
The member has also challenged the governor to address the issue of floods in most of the estates which have been marooned by floods ahead of school reopening.
He also ruled out the allegations that there were insufficient condoms in the city, adding that his committee ensured that enough funds were allocated to the health sector in the current financial year, hence, able to address the issues surrounding condom distribution in public areas such as dispensers in public toilets, and other areas.