The county government has banned the sale of food in the open due to a cholera outbreak in the area.

The County Director for Health Gerald Akeche said the sanctions target food hawkers.

Speaking to The Standard, Mr Akeche said food sold in the open put the locals at risk of contracting the disease.

“We don’t want a situation where people sell food which can be eaten immediately in an environment which is easily accessed by flies.

“We are warning hawkers against selling food to people along the roads,” said Akeche.

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The director said about 130 people had been reported to have been infected with cholera, which broke out late last month.

He said majority of the victims hail from Homa Bay sub-county in places along river Arujo, Shauri Yako and Makongeni estates, while the rest hailed from Suba sub-county.

Current outbreak

The medic attributed the current outbreak of cholera to a woman who travelled from Kibera in Nairobi to Sindo village.

“The woman came to Sindo and was admitted to hospital where she recovered but the infection spread and began afflicting a number of locals. Residents of the other sub-counties became susceptible to the disease through their daily interaction,” the Director added.

Meanwhile, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma has warned senators against blackmailing other leaders, saying they have failed in their oversight role on county governments.

Mr Kaluma said during the elections, Kenyans voted for six representatives, and both the Parliament and the Senate were given oversight roles hence the senators should not imagine of blackmailing MPS.

The legislator was addressing the media in Kisii after a sensitisation forum organised by the Constituency Development Fund board.

“Why should they be asking over Sh1 billion yet we are all paid handsome packages to carry out our mandate. This is cheap funeral politics. Money follows law,” said Kaluma.

The MP also took a swipe at the Health Ministry, saying the docket as currently constituted is a fraud to the people.