Kiosks face closure as county enforces hygiene rules

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba. [File, Standard]

Food vendors running kiosks in Nairobi risk closure if they fail to comply with public health requirements. Among the 10 requirements is having a current food hygiene licence, a standard kitchen with chimney and medical examination certificates for food handlers.

They are also required to provide adequate sanitary facilities for both genders. The establishments must also have washing facilities and adequate water supply.

Details are contained in a letter dated September 4 and addressed the vendors.

County Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba said the move is aimed at preventing cholera. He said that between June 2022 to April 2023, the County recorded high cases of cholera.

"We do not want a repeat," he said.

Some of the vendors who spoke to The Standard said most of them will be kicked out of business for failure to comply with the requirements.

They said their business premises are temporary structures and getting space for toilets is not possible.

"It's not bad to ensure hygiene but they need to understand that some conditions are just hard to implement," said Linet Adhiambo, who runs a food kiosk on Likoni Road.

Jane Njoroge, a food vendor with a makeshift canteen on Lunga Lunga Road said: "The requirements are just a means to put us out of business yet some of us have been in this business for over 20 years, educated our children and still doing so from these kiosks," she said.

Maurice Akuku, who owns a food kiosk on Mombasa Road, said he had tried to implement most of the requirements in vain. "I have a temporary toilet that is used by both female and male customers but a requirement to have another one for males or females is tricky," he said.

Nyakaba said the toilets are key for food kiosks and those without them risk immediate closure. He said owners can merge and come up with two toilets for each gender.

Many workers, especially those who work in companies in industrial area, rely on kiosks food.

But according to Nyakaba, the requirements are a must and food vendors will have to meet them or risk closure of business.