A recent crackdown on food safety has revealed alarming practices involving “smocha” trolleys stored in public toilets along Thika Road.
Commonly known as “smocha,” this beloved Kenyan street food consists of Smokies, kebabs, and boiled eggs wrapped in chapati.
Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Environment, led the operation on Wednesday night after receiving a tip-off from concerned members of the public about the health risks posed by these unsanitary storage practices.
This unsettling discovery has raised significant public health alarms, prompting authorities to take swift action and ensure accountability for those responsible.
“I want to thank the individual who discreetly reported the concerning practice of storing food trolleys and supplies in public toilets along Thika Road, particularly at the KEHNA toilets,” Mosiria stated on his X page.
During the investigation, Mosiria confronted the toilet’s manager, questioning why vendors were allowed to keep their trolleys in such unsanitary conditions.
He emphasized that such practices should never be tolerated.
“The hygiene standards we encountered here are deeply concerning,” he remarked.
“Food intended for human consumption must not be stored in such environments.
The risk of contamination is alarmingly high, and this could contribute to the spread of foodborne illnesses,” he warned.
The vendors, who often operate late into the night, have been using these public toilets as makeshift storage for their trolleys.
This revelation follows a previous discovery, where Mosiria and city council officers found several trolleys hidden in back alleys and poorly ventilated storerooms within Nairobi’s Central Business District.
With the popularity of trolley vending on the rise thanks to their affordability and convenience issues regarding hygiene and food safety are becoming more prominent, especially in densely populated areas lacking proper storage facilities.
Authorities are now stepping up efforts to address these concerns.
Consumers are urged to be cautious about where they purchase street food, while vendors are encouraged to prioritize cleanliness to mitigate health risks.
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