Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1341256,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1341256/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 526,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr Susan Nakhumicha",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Health",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Speaker and Members. On the issue to indicate the company that dumped contaminated maize flour at Kang’oki dumpsite in Kamenu Ward in Thika Town, my Ministry reached out to the county for more information on the said dumping of flour at the dumpsite in Kamenu Ward. We were informed that they received communication that a lorry carrying industrial waste on Saturday, 12th August 2023, dumped toxic waste at the dump site. Part of it being a substance suspected to be flour, that is unga, that was dumped at Kang’oki located in Makongeni Thika Town. It was reported that the residents of the area, while scavenging for food, came across the said flour and prepared food with the same. Following consumption of the flour, 12 patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of food poisoning presented at Thika Level 5 Hospital within Kiambu County and they were attended to. Unfortunately, two patients succumbed to this. The surveillance team visited the site to establish the facts about the incident and to disseminate public health information to the community residing near the dumpsite. Dumping of the toxic waste is illegal and thus the surveillance team set out to investigate the source of the toxic waste. My team and the county team obtained samples from suspected toxic flour and food remains from the victims and submitted them to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and the Government Chemist for analysis. The samples underwent bacteriological analysis, particularly for the cooked ugali, and toxicological and aflatoxin content for the suspected maize flour. The bacteriological analysis was negative per the NPHL report. The certificate of analysis from the Government Chemist reported the coarse ground maize flour sample was found to contain non-chemically toxic substances. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}