KENYA – Alarming revelations continue to emerge about widespread violations of food safety practices among Kenyan street food vendors, coinciding with a surge in food poisoning cases.
A recent food safety crackdown has led to the discovery of vending trolleys stored in public toilets along Thika Road.
The trolleys for “smocha” as colloquially known, is a renowned Kenyan street food comprising Smokies, kebabs and boiled eggs wrapped in a chapati bread, are often seen in each corner of streets around the country.
Many people retreat to this ready to eat foods from the vendors because they are affordable compared to restaurants.
Nairobi County’s Environment Chief Officer Geoffrey Mosiria made a bust following a tip-off from members of the public raising concerns on potential health risks due to the unsanitary conditions the trolleys are being stored.
‘‘I want to thank the person who discreetly reported the disturbing practice of storing food trolleys and other foodstuffs in a public toilet along Thika road, specifically at the KEHNA toilets.’’ wrote Geoffrey on social media page.
Geoffrey questioned the toilet’s manager why she allowed the vendors to store their trolleys in an unsanitary place, noting that it should never be condoned.
Recently, he exposed several kiosks in the Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) for operating in filthy environment while using dirty utensils, grimy pans, and even recycled cooking oil, painting a stark picture of the poor hygiene standards at the establishment.
This led to the immediate closure of the food kiosks and the suspension of non-compliant vendors. Many citizens called on the government to take stern actions against the violators and undertake civic educations about food safety.
“Most of these street foods are breeding grounds for disease and pose a serious health threat to unsuspecting customers. Much of the food consumed in Nairobi, especially street food, is not safe,” Geoffrey stated.
“Many vendors are only in it to make money and do not care about the consequences of their actions. It’s just terrible—both the handling and preparation are subpar. We want to ensure that all vendors adhere to the rules and that the food being consumed meets the highest standards.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Brian Lesso has warned that many people are unaware of the lifestyle diseases that can result from consuming street food. These diseases develop over time, and their effects may only become apparent after years of unhealthy eating habits.
In addition to lifestyle diseases, Dr. Lesso highlighted other health issues that can arise from consuming street food. Common symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, and headaches, often resulting from foodborne illnesses.