Counties Struggle to Contain Cholera Outbreak

Health officials in several Kenyan counties are grappling with a worsening cholera outbreak that has exposed major gaps in water, sanitation, and disease control systems. According to WHO, Nairobi, Kisumu, Migori, and Kwale counties are among the worst affected, with 256 suspected cases and 13 deaths reported — the case fatality rate stands at 5.2%, well above the World Health Organization threshold for adequate case management.
In Migori County, which has emerged as a hotspot, officials say poor sanitation in some sub-counties (Suna East, Suna West, Kuria East, and Kuria West) is fueling the outbreak. Local response teams are struggling with limited resources, and health workers warn that the scale of the outbreak is straining hospital capacity and supplies.
In Turkana County, the situation is particularly challenging in the Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee settlements. As of early June 2025, the county’s rapid response team confirmed 74 reported cases, with 30 laboratory-confirmed, and at least one death.Public health officials say the constraints are aggravated by insufficient access to clean water, weak hygiene infrastructure, and limited staffing for case detection and community-level response.
Health experts say the delay in containing the outbreak reflects longstanding structural issues. According to the Ministry of Health and WHO, there are weaknesses in county-level water treatment, insufficient community sensitization, and gaps in rapid-response coordination. Authorities are urging residents in high-risk counties to practise strict hygiene, use water purification tablets, and report any suspected cholera symptom immediately to nearby health facilities.