Narok, Kenya – October 5, 2025 – A cholera outbreak in Narok County has left four people dead and at least 20 others hospitalized, prompting urgent measures from local authorities to curb the spread of the deadly disease.
Narok County’s Health Chief Officer, Lucy Kashu, confirmed that the outbreak has severely affected three wards in Trans Mara West and South Sub-Counties: Kilgoris, Shankoe, and Lorgorian. So far, 31 cases have been reported.
Hotels Closed and Food Hawking Suspended
In response, the county government has ordered the closure of all hotels in Kilgoris town and placed a ban on food hawking across the county. Kashu explained that the suspension will remain in place until health officials fully contain the outbreak.
“Several wards in this county have been affected by the disease, and we have already taken action to ensure the reported cases are receiving treatment,” Kashu said.
“Because of the danger presented by the disease, all hotel and food hawking operations in Kilgoris town should stop until the disease is eliminated in the county,” she added.
Hawkers who wish to continue operations will now be required to obtain special clearance from the Narok County government.
What is Cholera and Why It’s Deadly
Cholera is a highly contagious waterborne disease caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
- Symptoms include severe watery diarrhoea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and dehydration.
- The infection can turn fatal within hours if untreated.
- The case fatality rate stands at 6.2%, according to health experts.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that cholera affects 1.3 to 4 million people globally every year, leading to between 21,000 and 143,000 deaths.
County Launches Emergency Response
To combat the outbreak, Narok County has rolled out an intensive awareness campaign urging residents to adopt preventive practices such as frequent handwashing, safe food handling, and use of clean water.
Additionally, the county has trained Community Health Promoters to help identify and manage new cases at the grassroots level.
“We have already started raising awareness among residents of these sub-counties to ensure that they adhere to practices like regular handwashing to prevent the spread of the disease,” Kashu noted.
What Residents Should Do
Authorities are urging Narok residents to:
- Avoid eating from unregulated food vendors.
- Boil or treat drinking water before use.
- Seek immediate medical attention if experiencing diarrhoea, vomiting, or dehydration.
The county government says it will continue monitoring the situation closely until the outbreak is fully contained.
