SENIOR Public Health officials in Kitui County netted over 700 kilograms of expired maize flour at St Andrews private school in Nuu Ward, Mwingi Central Sub County.
The multi-agency team was led by Public Health chief officer Ms Lynn Kitwan. Other government officials who accompanied her during the late Thursday raid were Nuu Assistant County Commissioner Joel Laisuta, Kitui County Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr Ben Musyoka and county deputy director of Public Health Faith Mutinda.
The private institution was ordered to shut down immediately.
The expired maize flour packets were loaded into a police van and taken to Nuu police station awaiting further investigations.
25 pupils got sick in the school earlier this week. They were taken to Mwingi Level Four Hospital for treatment. The school has 250 students.
Kitwan said the pupils were brought to the health facility in critical condition but health officers managed to stabilize them.
The pupils complained of diarrhea, abdominal pain and were vomiting.
MWINGI TIMES understands that 30 more learners were taken to Nuu Level Four Hospital, treated and discharged.
County CO for Public Health Kitwan said that the pupils fell sick after the school fed them with expired maize flour.
"We cannot be feeding our pupils with expired products that have turned poisonous" said Dr Ben Musyoka, the Kitui County Chief Officer for Medical Services.
She did an inspection around the institution together with St Andrews private school deputy director Gladys Mwaka.
Kitwan said that the school will be reopened only after it meets set public health and sanitation guidelines.
STORY By MWINGI TIMES CORRESPONDENT
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