Public Health Officers Urge Schools to Enforce Hygiene Standards

Public health authorities in Kenya are pushing for stricter hygiene compliance in schools, calling on administrators to enforce sanitation protocols across all learning institutions. Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has directed Public Health Officers to intensify inspections of school premises, particularly food handling areas and communal facilities, to prevent disease outbreaks. Officials warn that lapses in hygiene can have serious health consequences for students, and they are urging proactive enforcement of regulations under the Public Health Act.
The call comes after a troubling food poisoning incident at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Embu County, where dozens of students were hospitalized In response, the Ministry of Health issued a statement mandating that schools rigorously follow the Kenya School Meals, Food Safety and Quality Guidelines, and adopt stronger hygiene and food safety measures in all kitchens, cafeterias, and serving areas.
Local leaders have also weighed in, emphasizing that school infrastructure must support these hygiene goals. In Murang’a County, public health experts and development partners highlighted the need for modern sanitation facilities — including well-designed toilets and efficient water systems — that comply with World Health Organization recommendationsMeanwhile, the national school health policy requires each school to maintain adequate hand-washing stations, proper waste disposal, and regular hygiene education for students.
Going forward, the Ministry of Health plans to deepen collaboration with County governments and school authorities to make hygiene enforcement more sustainable. Training for Public Health Officers on school inspections is being scaled up, and officials say they will hold school heads accountable for hygiene standards. The long-term vision: a school environment where clean water, proper sanitation, and food safety are not just policies, but practiced daily to safeguard children’s health.