Officials destroy 35 bags of lethal maize found in populous Naivasha school

NAKURU COUNTY: Over 3,000Kgs of contaminated maize was disposed off by public health officers in Naivasha after test confirmed that it had high levels of aflatoxin.

Under tight guard, the 35 bags of maize which were incidentally confiscated from one of the largest primary schools in the lakeside town were disposed at the town’s dumpsite.

The maize was dumped in a condemnation pit and later doused with paraffin and set on fire as members of the public watched from a distance.

The bags were seized at Kinungi primary school two weeks ago and tests in the government chemist confirmed that they were unfit for human consumption.

According to the Naivasha sub-county public health officer Caroline Vata who oversaw the exercise, the maize had very high levels of aflatoxin.

Vata said that some minors had complained of mild abdominal pains forcing them to intervene and take samples.

“We took samples of the maize and beans and after tests, the former turned out to be unfit for human consumption,” she said.

Following the revelations, the health office said that they had embarked on major exercise to sample all cereals in public schools in the sub-county.

“We have increased our surveillance and we shall be testing all cereals in school stores to make sure that they are fit for human consumption,” she said.

Nakuru County director of public health and sanitation Dr Joseph Lenai called on schools to involve them in issues of food quality.

He noted that quick action by public health officers to impound the maize saw the lives of the over 1,000 minors saved.

“There were few cases of mild abdominal pains among some minors before the maize was impounded from the school,” he said.

The doctor added that the maize was also under attack by weevils and praised the public health officers for the quick move to seize the maize.

Lenai added that the county government was working with schools to fully implement the school health curriculum programme.

“We are working with the ministry of education to fully implement the health curriculum so that we can address issues of latrines, food and space occupancy,” he said.

Officials destroy 35 bags of lethal maize found in populous Naivasha school

Antony Gitonga                           

NAKURU COUNTY: Over 3,000Kgs of contaminated maize was disposed off by public health officers in Naivasha after test confirmed that it had high levels of aflatoxin.

Under tight guard, the 35 bags of maize which were incidentally confiscated from one of the largest primary schools in the lakeside town were disposed at the town’s dumpsite.

The maize was dumped in a condemnation pit and later doused with paraffin and set on fire as members of the public watched from a distance.

The bags were seized at Kinungi primary school two weeks ago and tests in the government chemist confirmed that they were unfit for human consumption.

According to the Naivasha sub-county public health officer Caroline Vata who oversaw the exercise, the maize had very high levels of aflatoxin.

Vata said that some minors had complained of mild abdominal pains forcing them to intervene and take samples.

“We took samples of the maize and beans and after tests, the former turned out to be unfit for human consumption,” she said.

Following the revelations, the health office said that they had embarked on major exercise to sample all cereals in public schools in the sub-county.

“We have increased our surveillance and we shall be testing all cereals in school stores to make sure that they are fit for human consumption,” she said.

Nakuru County director of public health and sanitation Dr Joseph Lenai called on schools to involve them in issues of food quality.

He noted that quick action by public health officers to impound the maize saw the lives of the over 1,000 minors saved.

“There were few cases of mild abdominal pains among some minors before the maize was impounded from the school,” he said.

The doctor added that the maize was also under attack by weevils and praised the public health officers for the quick move to seize the maize.

Lenai added that the county government was working with schools to fully implement the school health curriculum programme.

“We are working with the ministry of education to fully implement the health curriculum so that we can address issues of latrines, food and space occupancy,” he said.