At least 20 people have been admitted at Ruiru level 5 hospital in Kiambu County with symptoms of cholera after drinking contaminated water over the Christmas weekend.
Those hospitalized were mainly from Gatong’ora, Murera, Kiratina and Prison area where so far two people are reported to have succumbed to the dreaded disease.
Medical staff at the facility declined to talk to journalists, but relatives of the victims blamed the outbreak on contaminated water and food.
Peter Mwaura, a resident of Gatong’ora said that the problem began when people from the area consumed water mixed with sewage which entered their water taps on December 23, 2022.
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He accused the local water company of discharging raw sewage into Ruiru river, exposing thousands of consumers downstream to the possibility of contracting cholera.
“At least one person has died of cholera so far, something must be done urgently to check the spread. We are asking Governor Wamatangi to intervene,” Mwaura stated.
Mary Njuguini who hails from Gatong’ora said her sister got sick after drinking water from a neighbour and developed diarrhoea and vomiting.
She said they were charged Ksh5,700 for tests done at the hospital which did not cover medicine that they had to buy from chemists.
Relatives escort a sick woman to the wards at Ruiru level 5 hospital.
PHOTO/Oliver Musembi
Another patient, 45-year-old Ruth Nabari is said to have eaten food from a roadside vendor in Murera Kwa Tom area on Sunday and started exhibiting diarrhoea and vomiting, according to her son Japheth Bwire.
So far, 29 people from Theta and Murera areas are said to have recovered so far from the disease, according to Murera ward MCA Moses Ngatha. An unknown number are admitted at Gachororo health centre.
