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EXCLUSIVE: 150 admitted in hospitals after mass food poisoning at Strathmore University


More than 150 students and staff of Strathmore University were admitted to various hospitals in Nairobi after massive food poisoning that occurred at the institution last Friday.

All the affected are fourth year students who had attended the university’s seniors dinner, according to a memo sent out by the university.

“This is to let you know of the regrettable incident of food poisoning that occurred last Friday 20th March, to our 4th year students, and staff members who attended the Seniors Dinner,” read the memo, dispatched by Betty Ngala, the university relations.

“The University is fully aware of this matter, and has taken charge to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.”

KIDNEY FAILURE

Sources say some students are admitted in high dependency units suffering from severe dehydration.

There is also talk of kidney injury on all students since they are exhibiting similar symptoms, although the extent varies depending on the degree of dehydration.

“It (kidney injury) is said to be reversible depending on how fast one gets dehydrated,” said a parent.

The Nairobi News understands that some parents of the affected students are considering taking legal action against the institution.

“It is really traumatizing because we don’t know what we are dealing with and the rumours are too many,” said a parent.

The university has not given the caterers name, only saying catering services for the dinner were outsourced and that investigations have been launched to establish the real cause of the food poisoning.

Food samples as well as patients results have been collected for analysis at the Kenya Medical Research Institute.

“Our faculty members are working to ascertain the numbers of students affected,” said Ngala.

A parent of one of the affected students said the number could be as high as 150.

ALMOST DIED

Kammie Mutegi, one of the affected students, slammed the university, vaunted for its high educational standards, for dropping the ball on food matters.

“I am so disappointed in the school, they have such high standards educational wise you would think they would have the same standards in their activities! So sad, it’s been two days and I am not well. That catering company must have been at it to kill us prolly (probably), I have never seen food poisoning work so fast!! Anyway we shall recover and graduate,” said Mutegi.

Victoria Nthambi said: “Jesus! I almost died jana (yesterday)…whatever that food poison is, it’s the worst I ever had.”