Kenya needs to contain food poising

Bomet Senator Wilfred Lesan consoles one of the 200 residents who were taken ill after consuming stale food during a pass out ceremony of new initiates at Kamureito in Kipsonoi Ward of Sotik Constituency. Three people died due to what doctors say was dehydration. PHOTO: GILBERT KIMUTAI

Cases of villagers dying after eating contaminated food are on the rise across the country. Often, such incidents occur where large groups of people are gathered for ceremonies although there are cases where hunger has driven families to eat wild fruits or expired food, thus endangering their lives.

The latest incident in Sotik, Bomet County in which three people died while more than 200 were admitted to hospital despite the ongoing doctors strike raises the question; what is the role of the public health sector in society?