State stops sale of maize in Oloitoktok after deaths

The Government has stopped the sale of maize at Oloitokitok after the death of six people on Thursday evening and four at the weekend who consumed poisonous maize.

Six people succumbed to death after consuming githeri cooked using toxicated maize said to originate from an identified seller.

Area deputy county commissioner Hassan Harsame told The Standard that the incident is under investigation with the officers from the Agriculture ministry, on the ground.

Harsama said the six died in three separate villages but confirmed reports indicated that they all acquired the maize from a common vendor.

"The sale of the maize has been stopped and the areas to which it had been supplied are being traced to curb its sale as investigations go on," Said Mr Harsama.

Several other people were hospitalised in Loitoktok, Kajiado South.

The first incident was reported in Rombo village where two casual laborers who lived together consumed a meal of githeri and, according to eye witnesses, the two began complaining of stomach ache and succumbed to death after one hour," said Harsame.

The DCC says that another incident was reported in two other villages where four others died. All are said have got their maize from the supply.

"Preliminary reports indicated that the six and the four who are hospitalised had fed on a maize meal," said Harsme.

He called on residents to ensure they completely dry cereals before storing them to avoid unnecessary poisoning that leads to death.

Speaking when he arrived at the Rombo village, Kajiado County governor David Nkedianye said it is high time the community is sensitized on safe storing of harvested maize to avoid such cases.

"The stakeholders concerned on matters pertaining food security should take precaution by educating locals on safe storage of harvested maize," said Nkedianye.