Poison scare: Makueni Schools fail to utilize maize distributed by County Government

Sacks of maize at Kyamutimba Primary School store, the maize supplied is feared to be poisonous and unfit for human consumption.  Photo: Stephen /Standard

Various schools in Makueni County have failed to consume Relief food distributed by the County government with allegations of food poison, afflatoxin as school heads reports.

Most of the primary schools which have raised alarm are located in Ukia ward, Kaiti constituency where part of the procured maize is reported to be contaminated hence unhealthy for the pupils to consume.

The County Government had procured under emergency kit 10,600 bags of maize and 2,700 bag of beans during the campaign period at a cost of Sh 87 to serve close to 240,000 pupils to bolster their stay in school due to hunger in most of the regions.

On a visit to one of the affected schools, the standard learned that most of the distributed maize had molds, quite black but could not establish if the food was contaminated.

Kyamutimba primary school head, Mr. Samuel mulwa claimed that it was evident the maize was unfit adding that he had ordered the County Government to collect their maize back.

Mr. Mulwa said the County Government had supplied the maize while wet but efforts to dry the maize on sun had proved unsuccessful.

“They supplied wet maize, we have tried to dry it in sun several times but no changes”, he said.

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) chair Ms. Redempta Ndambuki observed that they were not ready to cook bad food for their pupils regardless of the County Government having send several officials to convince them to use the maize.

“Senior Government officials have been here, obtained samples but they haven’t brought results, let them pick their maize”, Redempta said.

Contrary, earlier while receiving the consignment, the health Executive Dr.Andrew Mulwa told journalists that they had taken the maize samples to Government chemistry and Okayed it for use.

“This maize is free from any contamination, especially the notorious aflatoxin which is rampant in this region, I can now confidently confirm that after the tests done in the Nairobi based Government chemist”, said Dr. Mulwa

Other schools under the alleged contaminated maize scare are Nthongoni, Kyamuthei, Kyau, Kiukuni among other schools.

Efforts to get answers from the concerned health officer was fruitless as every officials claimed was not entitled to talk to the media.

Controversy

Earlier, the County Government had procured relief food made of the People with Disabilities (PWDS) worthy Sh. 7 million but the maize was declared unfit for human consumption and an order issued for the maize to be destroyed.

Allegations emerges that the maize was not destroyed as required and was merged with the consignment procured to feed primary schools hence the food poison scare.

Sources claims that the bad maize could have landed to various Ukia ward schools hence the contamination alarm.