Two individuals have died, and an additional seven are admitted to Thika Level V Hospital after eating Ugali they picked from the Kang’oki dump site in Kiganjo, Thika.
Among those receiving medical care, one individual’s condition is reported to be critical.
Heading the Thika Level V Hospital, Dr. Waruti Kibuti informed the press that a total of eight people were admitted due to respiratory issues. Medical professionals are diligently working to stabilize their conditions.
“From the Kang’oki dump site, we received eight patients, with one of them being in a critical condition,” Dr. Waruti conveyed to the media. “Three are in a serious condition, whereas four are in stable condition.”
“Most of these patients arrived at the hospital in an unconscious state and faced respiratory problems,” she added.
Simon Kioko, who was among those who consumed a serving of Ugali prepared on Monday, revealed that the maize flour used in their meal was collected from Kiambu’s largest dump site located in Kang’oki, Thika.
Kioko shared with journalists that they collected the maize flour last Saturday from the dump site and stored it until Tuesday when they cooked Ugali and shared it amongst themselves.
“A portion of the flour we used came from Kang’oki, and it wasn’t even a large amount,” lamented a mother who tragically lost her son to the incident in an interview with Inooro TV. “I found my child lying in a critical condition. I gave him water, and he started vomiting, so I rushed him to the hospital.”
“He stayed in the hospital for a short while, and around five o’clock, he left me,” she added.
Investigations into this unfortunate event are currently underway.