140 students sent home in food poisoning scare

At least 140 students who suffered food poisoning after eating expired bread are undergoing treatment in Baringo.

County Director of Education Willie Machocho on Tuesday said learners from Kituro High School in Baringo Central started complaining of headache and stomach upset after having breakfast on Monday morning.

The students then informed the school management about the incident and were rushed at Kituro Dispensary for treatment.

Tests conducted at the facility and government laboratories indicated the learners were suffering from food poisoning.

"Ten students complained of stomachache and headache on Monday morning after consuming bread for breakfast.

"They were rushed to the nearest dispensary for treatment and were discharged," said Mr Machocho.

He also said another group of 130 students had reported cases of stomach upset and headache and were rushed to the dispensary for treatment, but their condition did not improve.

Machocho noted that because of the ongoing countrywide nurses' strike that had paralysed operations in most public hospitals, students were released to go home and seek better treatment.

This was after consultation with the institution's board of governors and parents who advised the school to allow students to seek treatment in private hospitals.

"The facility was not able to handle the high number of learners and some required further examination and treatment. That is why the management decided to release them," said Machocho.

He dismissed rumours doing rounds on social media that the students had cholera.

The school, he said, had clean drinking water and public health officers inspect food supplied to the institution.

But he accused the school of allowing the contractor to supply expired bread.

He said action will be taken against the supplier after the probe.