PS Mary Muthoni Warns Kenyans Against Uninspected Meat and Drug Misuse Ahead of Festive Season
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 8 – Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has urged Kenyans to exercise heightened caution over the food they consume during the festive season, amid rising concerns about uninspected meat flooding the market as demand surges.
Muthoni revealed that unscrupulous traders are exploiting the high holiday consumption period to sell meat that has not undergone mandatory health inspections, posing a major threat to public safety.
“We are seeing an increase in uninspected meat being pushed into the market to beat the growing festive season demand. I am calling on Kenyans to be extremely careful,” she warned.
The PS noted that the Ministry of Health is working closely with County Governments to ensure meat inspectors remain on duty throughout the holiday period. She added that counties are receiving updated guidelines to strengthen inspection standards and prevent unsafe products from reaching consumers.
Her remarks follow recent cases of food poisoning reported in different parts of the country, raising concerns about food handling and hygiene practices.
Muthoni also raised alarm over the increasing trend of Kenyans purchasing over-the-counter medicines without proper medical advice. She cautioned that misuse of drugs, coupled with the circulation of counterfeit medication, is contributing to rising resistance to common treatments.
“Standards must be observed. We will soon institute a crackdown on outlets stocking fake medication. Kenyans must stop self-medicating, especially with drugs whose quality cannot be guaranteed,” she said.
On Social Health Insurance, the PS encouraged well-off Kenyans to support the enrollment of vulnerable families, saying this will help expand access to healthcare as envisioned under President William Ruto’s reforms. She emphasized that broad participation is essential to ensure more citizens access affordable and quality health services.
Muthoni further urged young people to celebrate responsibly during the festive season, expressing concern over a spike in HIV infections among the youth.
“We want our young people to enjoy responsibly,” she said.
