Public Alert Issued Following Spike in Food Poisoning Cases

Health officials in Kenya have issued a public alert after a worrying increase in suspected food-poisoning incidents in several counties. In Kirinyaga County alone, over 100 people were hospitalized after attending a church feast in April 2025, where contaminated meat is believed to have caused the outbreak.
Authorities are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when consuming food from community gatherings, open-air events, and local vendors. The Ministry of Health has instructed county public health officers to conduct intensified food inspections and to enforce food-safety regulations strictly — especially in settings where large groups are served.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) has issued a separate warning concerning milk products after a food-poisoning crisis in Kericho County, where more than 160 people fell ill after drinking contaminated mursik (traditional fermented milk). The KDB has called on consumers to only source dairy products from reputable suppliers and to observe proper hygiene when storing and handling milk.
Public health leaders are advising Kenyans to follow key food-safety practices at home: thoroughly wash utensils, cook meat and milk products well, avoid food from unhygienic vendors, and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain develop.