County Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba has
banned Probox vehicles from transporting meat, following recent health
incidents.
Speaking during a major sanitation exercise at Burma Market
on Thursday, November 13, Nyakaba emphasised that only approved vehicles should be used to
transport meat.
“To maintain health standards in meat facilities, we have
banned Probox cars from carrying meat. Any approved vehicle should have an
identification number that can be traced back to the market,” he said.
“This will help prevent cases like the one we had last week
involving anthrax. Let’s comply; we can have Probox cars carrying people, but
not meat.”
He further noted that the Meat Control Act provides clear
guidelines on how meat should be handled, transported, and stored, urging
compliance across all markets.
“The Meat Act already provides standards on how to transport
meat and the necessary processes. We encourage those in charge to do their best
and ensure full adherence,” Nyakaba noted.
He also announced that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has approved
the deployment of two public health officers to monitor meat hygiene at the
market day and night.
“The governor has approved that we have two public health
officers stationed here to ensure continuous inspection of meat throughout the
day and night,” Nyakaba said.
The fumigation and sanitation exercise at Burma Market was
carried out as part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen food safety and
hygiene standards in the city’s meat markets.
Led by Nyakaba, the team inspected stalls, conducted hygiene
checks, and held a meeting with the market committee and traders to reinforce
compliance with public health regulations.
Nyakaba said the operation aimed to ensure that all meat
outlets meet the highest standards of cleanliness and safety, especially as
demand rises toward the festive season.
“Today we were at Burma Market here in Nairobi to inspect
the condition of the meat market to ensure it meets the best public health
standards,” he said.
“As the demand for meat begins to rise, it is our
responsibility to maintain health standards in all our facilities, especially
those dealing with food.”
He added that the County had fumigated and cleaned the
market to prevent bacterial contamination and ensure compliance with licensing
and safety requirements among traders.
“We have fumigated and cleaned to stop micro-bacteria. We are also ensuring that all meat vendors possess valid licenses because this is a matter of public health,” Nyakaba said.
