Nairobi County to launch new safety manual to improve street food hygiene
Health safety specialists emphasized that food safety is a critical element of the right to adequate food.
Nairobi County is set to introduce a new food safety manual aimed at promoting better hygiene and food handling practices among street food vendors.
The manual is intended to provide public health officers with clear guidance to help street vendors improve food safety standards across the city.
Developed by the University of Nairobi and the African Population and Health Research Centre, the manual offers practical instructions on the safe handling of both raw and cooked food.
It is designed to equip public health officers with the tools they need to educate vendors on safer food practices, ultimately aiming to protect consumers' health.
Health safety specialists emphasized that food safety is a critical element of the right to adequate food and human dignity.
"Food safety is often overlooked in food security conversations, yet it is crucial to human health, dignity, and overall well-being," they said in a statement.
Street food remains a vital part of urban diets, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where it provides an affordable and convenient option for millions.
However, concerns over hygiene and food contamination continue to pose serious public health risks.
The manual points out that "the biggest issue is hygiene."
It highlights poor food handling practices, inadequate sanitation, congestion, pedestrian obstruction, and even the illegal occupation of public spaces as major challenges in the street food sector.
According to the manual, food contamination can happen at any stage, from production to consumption, making proper food handling education and preventive strategies essential.
The manual, titled Food Safety Training Manual for Street Food Vendors, provides clear information on the causes and symptoms of foodborne illnesses, the most common food contaminants, and best practices for hygiene in food handling, storage, and preparation.
It also offers advice on proper food preservation methods and draws upon both local and international legal frameworks, including Kenya’s Public Health Act (Cap. 242) and the Food, Drugs, and Chemical Substances Act (Cap. 254).
While Kenya established a National Food Safety Policy in 2013, it has not yet been passed into law.
Agriculture Principal Secretary Paul Kiprono noted that the policy is intended to create a coordinated national food safety system and a central food safety authority.
"An effective system will reduce illnesses and deaths from unsafe food, while also boosting trade," he said.
Unsafe food has a heavy toll on health worldwide.
The World Health Organization estimates that 600 million people suffer from foodborne diseases every year, resulting in 420,000 deaths and the loss of 33 million healthy life years, known as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
With the planned rollout of the food safety manual, Nairobi County aims to strengthen efforts to promote safer street food, protect public health, and uphold the constitutional right to safe food for all.