The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured the public that the food poisoning incident at St. Thomas Aquinas Igumori Secondary School in Embu County is under control. This follows an incident where several Form Four students were hospitalised after consuming beef on Thursday evening.
Public Health Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni, in a statement on Monday, emphasized that there is no need for panic. She confirmed that the state department is closely working with the Embu County Government to manage the situation effectively.
“The general public, parents, and students are hereby assured that the situation is under control and there should be no panic over the same,” said Muthoni. “The affected students have received the necessary medical attention and are out of danger.”
The incident has highlighted the importance of adhering to strict food safety protocols throughout the entire food chain. Muthoni urged schools to follow the Kenya School Meals, Food Safety, and Quality Guidelines to prevent similar occurrences. She stressed the need for proper hygiene and sanitation practices in all food handling areas.
School heads were reminded to prioritize students’ health and safety by implementing robust food safety measures and ensuring a clean, safe, and hygienic learning environment. Additionally, Food Business Operators supplying food to schools must guarantee the safety and quality of their products.
Muthoni directed Public Health Officers responsible for school sanitation and food safety to intensify food inspections. She emphasized enforcing regulations as stipulated in the Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act (Cap 254) and the Public Health Act (Cap 242) of the Laws of Kenya. Furthermore, she called upon health facilities to maintain high preparedness levels to handle foodborne illnesses and outbreaks effectively.
The incident unfolded when Form Four students consumed beef on Thursday evening, leading to severe stomach pains and diarrhea by Friday morning. The affected students were immediately rushed to Kiritiri Level Four Hospital, with five requiring referral to Embu Level Five Hospital for specialized treatment. Fortunately, all students are now in stable condition, with some treated and discharged.
School Principal Paul Mwaniki expressed regret over the unfortunate incident, suggesting that contamination may have occurred during the preparation of the meal. He noted that all necessary precautions had been taken, including meat inspection and certification by relevant authorities.
Public Health Officials from the Embu County Government have since launched an investigation to determine the cause of the contamination and prevent future incidents.
