Mary Waithira Njoroge, a veteran trader at the Kiambu market, has been running a food stall for more than a decade.
Maize, which is a staple food for most households, is one of the many agricultural products that she sells.
Speaking to KNA Friday as the world commemorates World Food Safety Day, Waithira says she personally goes to the shamba herself and picks the maize for sale.
“Food safety should be given first priority when dealing with food and products to avoid foodborne diseases through contamination. It is very important,” Waithira said.
“When I pick the maize myself, I make sure to only pick the mature ones. When I purchase from another farmer, I go on and question the farming chemicals that the farmer has used and whether they are approved.
She explains to the writer that her mantra has always been that cleanliness is next to godliness and that you should also do what you would want others to do to you. I am a clean person. I love health, so I always make sure my customers get the best, “she says with a smile.
Waithira said she has always been keen on the critical importance of proper food handling, preparation, and storage to minimise the risk of food-related illness.
She, however, noted that, as a trader, there are things that the county government needs to look at, such as the status of the markets in terms of infrastructure and cleanliness.
Michael Mathu, a hotel owner in Kiambu Market, emphasises the importance of food safety, saying that for someone who handles flour, storing and handling dry food is very delicate and one needs to be careful, especially when purchasing.
“Before purchasing a bundle of flour, I check the expiration date to ensure it is not expired. I also check the storage, especially if it is in a well-preserved condition fit for human consumption.
He emphasized on the need to serve fresh food to his customers, a practice he says not only boosts business but also earns loyalty from patrons, but it also involves ensuring personal hygiene and maintaining cleanliness in cooking areas to prevent contamination.
“Food safety should be a top priority in every hotel business to instill confidence in customers. The cleanliness of business premises selling food and products is crucial, as unclean environments can lead to diseases. Additionally, storage areas for human food must be free from contamination to maintain high standards of hygiene and safety,” Mathu said.
Most traders spoke about heavy rains that have recently affected most of the traders due to sewerage pipes bursting and also the lower part of the market heavily flooding due to poor drainage.
“Some of the drainage furrows are too shallow and partly blocked and this poses a health threat and we are calling on the county council to open up the drainages in order for us to sell food in a good environment, “said Waithira.
One of the leaders in the market who opted to remain synonymous said that as traders, they run the market in an orderly manner and hold elections for the board every three years.
“Each trader possesses a voting card with a unique number used during elections. Recently, there have been accusations from traders claiming that some board members are bringing non-traders to vote, compromising the fairness of the elections,” he said.
The alleged misconduct has sparked discontent among traders, who feel their democratic right to fair elections is being violated, thereby disrupting business operations within the market.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Food Safety Day draws attention to food safety incidents.
This year’s theme is “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” and it underlines the importance of being prepared for food safety incidents, no matter how mild or severe they can be.
By John Kariba
