Cholera Outbreak Worsens: 16 New Admissions Linked to Naivas Supermarket’s In-House Eatery
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Sixteen additional cholera patients were rushed to Kiambu Referral Hospital on Saturday evening after eating food from Naivas Kitchen, the in-house eatery at Naivas Supermarket along Kiambu Road, escalating the outbreak’s toll to nearly 100 cases. The fresh wave of admissions has overwhelmed medical staff, with the hospital’s corridors now packed with patients battling severe dehydration, vomiting, and diarrhea. Health officials confirmed the supermarket’s eatery—already shuttered earlier in the day—remains the epicenter of the crisis.
Hospital Overwhelmed as Outbreak Spreads
By noon Saturday, 63 patients had already flooded the hospital, but the situation worsened dramatically after sunset. “We’ve admitted 16 new cases in just the past few hours,” said Dr. Japheth Kuthoni, lead physician at Kiambu Referral Hospital. “All reported eating at Naivas Kitchen inside the supermarket. This is a full-blown emergency.”
The hospital’s isolation ward overflowed, forcing staff to treat patients on stretchers in hallways. Nurses scrambled to administer IV fluids and oral rehydration salts as families crowded the gates. “We’re stretched to our limits,” Dr. Kuthoni added. “Cholera kills fast without intervention—do not wait to seek help.”
Naivas Kitchen Closed Amid Mounting Evidence
County health investigators traced the outbreak to Naivas Kitchen, a popular food court-style eatery inside the supermarket frequented by shoppers and commuters. “Nearly every patient we’ve seen ate there in the last 48 hours,” said Dr. Susan Muthoni, Kiambu’s Public Health Director. “We’re testing food and water samples from the Kitchen, but improper hygiene or contaminated ingredients are likely culprits.”
The supermarket temporarily closed the eatery, sparking panic among nearby vendors. “Even my regulars are scared to buy anything now,” said Mama Njeri, a juice seller outside Naivas. “If the supermarket’s own kitchen isn’t safe, who will trust us?”
Patients Describe Agonizing Symptoms
Among the latest admissions was Grace Wambui, a college student who ate fries and chicken from Naivas Kitchen on Friday. “By midnight, I couldn’t keep water down,” she said, her voice shaky. “I thought I’d die before reaching the hospital.”
Construction worker James Omondi, admitted earlier, lay curled on a stretcher. “I grabbed tea and chapati from the supermarket’s eatery before my shift,” he groaned. “Now my whole body aches like I’ve been beaten.”
County Sounds Alarm, Supermarket Responds
Governor Kimani Wamatangi urged residents to avoid eating at the supermarket’s shuttered Kitchen and boil drinking water. “This outbreak is spiraling,” he said at a press conference Saturday night. “We’re deploying emergency teams to chlorinate water points and trace contacts.”
In a statement, Naivas Supermarket management expressed “deep regret” and pledged to cooperate with investigators. “The health of our customers is our priority. Naivas Kitchen will remain closed until we ensure all safety standards are met.”
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Dr. Kuthoni pleaded for reinforcements. “We need more beds, IV supplies, and staff. If these numbers keep rising, we’ll be unable to save everyone.”
As fear grips Kiambu Road, the nation watches anxiously—hoping the tide turns before more families are shattered.
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