At least 40 people have been arrested and their eatery businesses closed down by the authorities in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County.
The move comes after the launch of a comprehensive crackdown on eateries flouting health and safety regulations by the Uasin Gishu County Government.
The exercise led by Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Dr. Paul Wangwe, is aimed at enforcing hygiene standards and safeguard public health of residents the devolved unit.
“We are conducting regular inspections of food establishments across the county to ensure they meet required hygiene and safety standards. This is about protecting our residents because the food they eat and the water they drink must be safe,” Wagwe said.
Inadequate fire safety equipment, crowded or poor ventilated kitchen areas and sanitation, and the absence or expiration of food handler certificates were among the many violations found during the inspections.
In a concerning instance, significant safety and human rights violation was recorded when the inspection team found employees trapped in a hotel kitchen.
The county officials continue to give stern warning of arrests and prosecution to food vendors in the county, while emphasizing on the ban of food hawking. Additionally, all hoteliers have been urged to ensure that they renew their food handlers certificates in order to avoid punishment by the law.
“All food handlers are required to undergo medical screening every six months and must obtain certification from authorized facilities. I will ensure that enforcement of this will be followed more strictly” Wagwe asserted.
