The Nairobi City County has shut down a popular restaurant in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) for putting the lives of Kenyans at risk due to poor hygiene.

During a routine night clean-up exercise on Monday, January 6, Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria was drawn to a foul stench from the hotel forcing him to act immediately.

Sanitary inspection led to the discovery of rotten food that was about to be sold to unsuspecting customers.

“The inspection revealed shocking conditions, including rotten food, an open and unclean kitchen, the absence of functional toilets, and ongoing operations despite these violations,” Mosiria said.

Further investigations uncovered that the hotel staff were operating with forged medical examination certificates, posing significant public health risks.

The violations saw the establishment closed immediately, with the owner set to be arraigned in court for failing to comply with public health regulations.

“We found the hotel in a filthy state, medical examination of the workers were fake and they had not adhered to any public health Directives, we issued a closure notice to the management and where we shall also arraign the owner in the court,” he added.

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The crackdown is set to follow on all food premises to ensure strict adherence to all public health guidelines.

This shocking discovery has raised serious public health concerns and comes months after a similar food safety crackdown that led to the discovery of “smocha” trolleys stored in public toilets along Thika Road.

The street food vendors, who often operate late into the night, reportedly use the spaces to store their trolleys overnight.

Authorities are now taking steps to address these concerns, as consumers have been urged to be vigilant and mindful of where they purchase food.

“The hygiene standards we observed here are alarming. Food meant for human consumption should never be stored in such conditions. The risk of contamination is extremely high, and this practice could lead to the spread of foodborne illnesses,” Mosiria noted.

In the past months, the environment officer has been at the forefront in ensuring business in Nairobi comply with the law, an act that saw his achievements recognized by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Sakaja commended the health Chief Officer for his dedication, innovative approach, and exceptional work including revitalizing Nairobi’s health facilities.

According to Sakaja, Mosiria’s efforts have revolutionized several health facilities in Nairobi including Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, Pumwani, and Mbagathi hospitals.

“He has overseen the unveiling of the first Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, significantly enhancing the hospital’s capacity to handle critical care cases,” Sakaja commended.