Nairobi County has moved quickly to clamp down on poor food hygiene at Gikomba Market, shutting down some food kiosks and issuing warnings to several others.
This action comes after disturbing reports revealed that fish vendors were preparing and selling fish right next to open urinals, raising serious health concerns for city residents.
The operation was led by Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, along Kombo Munyiri Road. During the crackdown, county officials discovered highly unhygienic conditions where food was being prepared and sold.
According to Mosiria, the environment was not only dirty but outright dangerous for public consumption.
“We found some traders selling fish in disgusting surroundings, including areas that are used as open urinals. This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. It puts the health of many innocent people at risk, and we will not allow it to continue,” said Mosiria.
The county closed two kiosks that were preparing and selling fish under these poor conditions and issued hygiene notices to seven other vendors. Traders were told in no uncertain terms that if they fail to improve their cleanliness, more shutdowns would follow.
But it wasn’t just the fish that raised red flags. The inspection also uncovered extremely poor handling of mutura, a popular Nairobi street food made of roasted intestines. Officials said the way it was being prepared and sold posed serious health risks.
Mosiria explained that the mutura found in the area was being sold in dirty and unsafe conditions, and traders involved have been sternly warned.
“To make matters worse, even the mutura being sold nearby was being handled in unsanitary conditions. This is a serious threat to public health. That’s why we had no choice but to shut down those kiosks,” Mosiria added.
The county government has also raised alarm over another troubling trend — the illegal dumping of waste.
Officials noted that some traders are carelessly throwing garbage into stormwater drainage systems. This is causing blockages that lead to flooding and environmental pollution in the city.
What’s more worrying is that some traders are reportedly paying street families as little as Ksh50 to dump their waste in illegal locations.
Mosiria condemned this practice, calling it irresponsible, unlawful, and a major contributor to the growing garbage crisis in Nairobi.
“This habit of paying street families to dispose of garbage illegally is worsening the situation. It’s making garbage management in the city even more difficult,” Mosiria said.
He urged all traders to use proper waste disposal methods and warned that those who break the rules will face harsh consequences.
The county has pledged to keep a close watch on all major food markets. Regular inspections will be conducted to ensure that food is prepared and sold in clean, safe environments. Any businesses found breaking hygiene rules will either be closed or fined.
Mosiria emphasized that the health and safety of city residents is a top priority and that Nairobi County will not compromise when it comes to public health.
He urged traders to maintain proper hygiene and use legal garbage disposal methods to protect not only their businesses but also the well-being of the public and the environment.
This new push by the county government shows its strong commitment to ensuring that Nairobi’s food markets are clean, safe, and sustainable.
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