Public Health Alert Issued Over Contaminated Food Packaging

NAIROBI, KENYA – Nairobi City County officials have issued an urgent public health warning following the discovery of a syndicate selling plastic bags washed in raw sewage to food vendors across the city’s major markets. The operation, uncovered on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in the Mukuru Kwa Ruben informal settlement, poses a significant risk of a widespread disease outbreak, including cholera and typhoid, according to the county's Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria.

During a crackdown, county enforcement officers found several individuals cleaning used plastic carrier bags in flowing sewage. These contaminated bags were reportedly being prepared for redistribution and sale to unsuspecting traders and consumers in at least six of Nairobi's busiest fresh produce and food markets: Gikomba, Toi, Burma, Muthurwa, Marikiti, and Wakulima. This unhygienic practice means that food items, including fresh vegetables and cooked meals, could be packaged in materials laden with harmful pathogens.

Immediate Risks and County Response

In a statement released on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Mr. Mosiria described the practice as "deeply disturbing and unfortunate," highlighting the grave danger it presents to public health. "Sewage water is typically rigged with harmful pathogens and toxins, which can remain in items such as carrier bags long after washing," a county advisory noted. "Once food interacts with the carrier bags, it becomes a conduit for the transmission of diseases such as typhoid and cholera."

Mr. Mosiria announced that the county government has launched a full-scale investigation and will conduct intensified surveillance in all major markets to seize the contaminated materials and identify all traders involved in the illegal supply chain. He issued a stern warning, stating that any person found handling or distributing these contaminated packaging materials will "face the full force of the law." The county did not immediately release details on the number of arrests made but confirmed the unlawful operation in Mukuru Kwa Ruben was shut down.

A Persistent Challenge of Urban Food Safety

This incident underscores the persistent and complex challenges of food safety and hygiene within Nairobi's sprawling informal food sector. A significant portion of the city's 2.5 million residents living in informal settlements rely on street vendors and local markets for daily meals, where regulation and oversight are often limited. Previous crackdowns led by Mr. Mosiria's office have targeted unsanitary conditions in markets like Gikomba, where vendors were found preparing fish and the local delicacy 'mutura' near open urinals in June 2025.

Public health experts have repeatedly warned that poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water, and unregulated food handling practices in densely populated areas create a fertile ground for foodborne illnesses. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 600 million people globally fall ill from contaminated food each year, with a disproportionate burden falling on low and middle-income countries. In response to these ongoing risks, Nairobi County, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi and the African Population and Health Research Centre, launched a food safety training manual for street vendors in April 2025, aiming to improve hygiene standards across the city.

However, the discovery of the sewage-washing syndicate reveals a more deliberate and dangerous threat that circumvents basic hygiene training. As county officials proceed with their investigation, Nairobi residents are urged to exercise extreme caution with food purchased from markets, particularly regarding the packaging. The full scale of the distribution of these hazardous plastic bags remains under investigation. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.