Nairobi County’s efforts to tackle the growing problem of pests in public spaces have exposed gaps in the city’s public health enforcement system with officials citing shortages of personnel, equipment, vehicles and budgetary allocations needed to carry out fumigation effectively.
The issue emerged when Nairobi County Executive Committee Member for Health Suzanne Silantoi appeared before the County Assembly Health Committee to respond to questions on the countywide fumigation and pest control programme targeting health facilities, eateries and other public spaces.
Silantoi told the committee that the programme covers all 17 sub-counties and targets health facilities, eateries, butcheries, schools, markets and informal settlements.
“The Programme is to cover 17 sub counties and it’s guided by surveillance…. the targeted Areas include health facilities, eateries, butcheries, and other food handling establishments,” she said.
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She said the exercise is routine and is being carried out using approved pest-control products, trained personnel and appropriate personal protective equipment.
However, the county’s Head of Pest Control, Japheth Mutula, told the committee that the department is struggling with a shortage of sprayer personnel and equipment.
Mutula said some of the available equipment has broken down while the department also lacks enough vehicles to support operations across the county.
“Chair we need enough Sprayer personnel as we have a shortage,”
Bedbugs and cockroaches put public spaces under scrutiny
The capacity gaps come as Nairobi continues to grapple with complaints over bedbugs and cockroaches in homes, businesses and public spaces.
Health Committee Chair Maurice Ochieng gave the department two weeks to ensure that eateries and public spaces are fumigated, particularly in areas affected by pest infestations.
“We are giving you an ultimatum of two weeks to ensure All eateries Are fumigated,” Ochieng said.
Ochieng rejected lack of funding as an excuse for failing to enforce public health requirements, arguing that public health should be about compliance rather than revenue.
The directive puts pressure on the health department to demonstrate whether it has the personnel, equipment and logistical capacity to carry out the exercise within the set period.
Committee raises alarm over substandard fumigation chemicals
The committee also raised concerns over the use of substandard fumigation chemicals by members of the public.
Members questioned the safety of products being used to control pests, particularly where chemicals may be applied in or around places where people live, work, eat or seek medical services.
The concern highlights another challenge for public health enforcement ensuring that pest-control products being used in Nairobi meet the required standards and that residents and businesses are not exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.
For the county, effective pest control therefore requires more than simply sending teams out to spray affected areas, it also requires proper equipment, trained personnel and oversight of the products being used.
Food-handler testing raises another public health concern
The committee also turned its attention to food safety, questioning the way food handlers in Nairobi are tested and issued with food-handling certificates.
Members raised concerns over the use of private laboratory service providers, arguing that the county should play a stronger role in ensuring that people handling food in eateries are properly tested.
The county has contracted seven service providers to undertake food-handler testing.
Chief Officer for Public Health Tom Nyakaba, however, disputed claims that private laboratories were failing to test food handlers. He said the bigger challenge was inadequate resources within the health sector.
“Chair, the challenge is Not The private labs …they are Actually doing their work…..the issue is revenue,” Nyakaba told the committee.
Nyakaba said about 700,000 people in Nairobi are required to undergo food-handler testing.
Nyakaba also acknowledged concerns over people obtaining food-handling certificates without following the required procedures.
He called on the committee to help the department address the problem, raising questions about how the county verifies compliance before certificates are issued.
“Chair we have cases of some people getting food testing certificates without passing through. the system…..we are Calling on the committee to help us,”
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