The Igembe South Deputy Public Health Officer, Allan Njiru, has issued a stern warning to traders cooking and hawking food in Maua town, saying the practice is a health hazard and that those caught would be apprehended and prosecuted.
Njiru regretted that in most areas around Maua town, street food vending had become notorious.
Street food vending, he added, is mostly practiced by low-income earners and consumed by the same category.
Njeru noted that food hawking has seen a tremendous increase from March 2023, due to financial constraints.
“Food sold along streets is very cheap since the dealers do not spend in paying rent for the space occupied thus sell the food at lower prices,’’ Njeru maintained.
“As you move along the streets of Maua town, especially from the Maua mosque to Maua Methodist Hospital, you will encounter more than thirty people cooking and selling food to customers who are overcrowded along the streets. Others move around with buckets selling peeled fruits to consumers,” he noted.
The Health Officer said that it is illegal for people to sell food around the streets.
“During January and February, we were able to clear all food hawkers in the town, including unlicensed fruit vendors, but it’s like they have resumed back to their normal business,” Njiru said, adding that sometimes the hawkers become wild and escape whenever they spot the public health officers. he further urged security personnel and the local administration to help in eradicating the menace.
He revealed that a majority of food hawkers have no medical and food licenses, hence placing the lives of their consumers in danger.