Mary Muthoni, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, has warned residents of Kisii County to avoid drinking unboiled water from rivers and springs due to contamination.
Addressing the public in the Tabaka area, the PS cautioned parents and teachers not to allow schoolchildren to drink the unsafe water.
“Our government laboratories have confirmed that the water is contaminated with faeces, making it dangerous to consume,” she stated.
The PS visited the area following a distress call from residents who reported cases of severe stomach pain, high fever, and diarrhoea with bloody stools.
The most affected areas include Nyamarondo, Nyabigege, and Nyarigoro villages in South Mugirango, where more than 200 people from South Mugirango Constituency were hospitalized with similar symptoms.
“Most of the affected individuals, the majority being children, are showing the same symptoms. Our medical staff is working tirelessly to contain the situation,” said Zachary Otieno, a medic at Tabaka Hospital.
This suspected outbreak emerged just two weeks after a similar one in Maroo, Suguta, Eng’ou, and Moticho, where people were hospitalized, treated, and discharged shortly after.
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Mariwa Secondary School in Etago Subcounty was also affected, with several students falling ill.
“We felt exhausted, with high fever and shivering, and eventually collapsed as our strength failed us,” said one of the students.
Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka expressed his concern in response to the outbreak and called for immediate government intervention. He appealed for preventive health measures to be implemented in the affected areas.
“This is not a trivial matter that can be handled with just hospital treatments. The Ministry of Health should give this situation the urgent attention it deserves,” he said.
The Senator also urged the Cabinet Secretary for Education to consider temporarily closing schools in the affected areas to prevent further spread, as it is highly contagious and children are particularly vulnerable.
Tabaka Ward MCA Jimmy Kenyenya supported the Senator’s concerns, encouraging residents to adopt proper hygiene practices, such as ensuring each household has a functional pit latrine and adequate waste disposal systems.
He reassured the community of the government’s dedication to tackling the outbreak. However, he highlighted the importance of personal hygiene for long-term health.
By Enock Okong’o
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