Members of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly on Wednesday passed a motion urging the county Government to conduct aflatoxin testing on cereals in all schools.
Kapsoya MCA Isaac Kemboi sponsored the motion.
While moving the motion, the MCA expressed concerns over the quality of food that learners in the county are exposed to.
He said a majority of the schools do not have the capacity to store cereals for a whole year.
“Many schools do not have the mechanisms of ascertaining moisture levels in cereals especially maize and are not endowed with proper infractural facilities to store them for a whole year,” Kemboi said.
The Kapsoya MCA further pointed out that many schools accept payment in kind and provide gender for food supply.
It is on this basis that the legislator expressed the need for the county’s department of Health Services to collaborate with the national government and conduct the test that will ensure safety of the food learners consume.
He further said the constitution allows devolved units to liaise with the national Government for purposes of administration and enhancing capacity.
Health Services is a devolved function under which public health officers are mandated to carry out market surveillance of firms and individuals dealing with food items.
Maize and other cereal items are commonly used in both private and public schools.
Dietary exposure to aflatoxins may result in severe toxic and carcinogenic outcomes in humans and animals. Aflatoxin toxicity may result in nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsions, and other signs of acute liver injury.
