The Ministry of Education has raised alarm over an acute water shortage that has struck schools within Nairobi County.
The latest comes amid a suspected cholera outbreak at Nairobi’s Upper Hill School, which has hospitalized 16 students and treated and discharged 60 others.
A multi-agency team comprised of all stakeholders swung into action early Monday, conducting a sanitation inspection at Upper Hill School.
According to reports, several students began vomiting and complaining of stomach upsets after eating rice, beans, and beef on Friday.
The Form Three stream was the worst affected, with one Form 4 student also admitted to a facility within the city.
Students had on Friday complained that their serving of Rice, beans and beef that was served on Friday had a foul smell.
Out of the 90 students suspected to have contracted cholera, 60 were treated and discharged from the Mbagathi Hospital .
13 others are being treated at the South B Hospital, while three others are receiving medical care at the Savannah Hospital.
Margaret Lessuda, the Director of Education in Nairobi, said officials visited the students in hospital and even met some parents.
Until late Monday, sanitation officials from the Ministry of Health as well as county governments were still collecting samples, mainly water and food, from the school for additional tests.
According to Lesuuda, the issue has been exacerbated by water scarcity in the capital, occasioned by drying boreholes that have strained water supply.
Ministry of Health data shows that Nairobi has recorded over 500 cholera cases since October 2022, with 85 fatalities.
