4 people die as cholera outbreak hits Narok
By Faith Lagat, October 5, 2025A cholera outbreak in Narok County has claimed four lives, with three adults and one child from Mgingo, Majengo, and Oldonyo Rasha villages succumbing to the disease.
31 others are currently receiving treatment across various hospitals in the region.
Narok County Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services, Lucy Kashu, on Sunday, October 5, 2025, confirmed that the outbreak has affected Kilgoris Central, Shankoe, and Lolgorian wards in Trans Mara West and South sub-counties.
The first suspected cases were reported on September 29, 2025 at Trans Mara West Sub-County Hospital, where eight patients were admitted with acute watery diarrhoea. Tests conducted at the hospital and Walter Reed Kericho Laboratory confirmed cholera infection on October 3, 2025.
“As of Friday, 12 patients – five men, five women, and two children – were still admitted, while 15 others had been treated and discharged,” Kashu told the press.
Emergency response activated
The county has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and deployed rapid response teams to the affected areas. A temporary cholera treatment unit has been established at Trans Mara West Sub-County Hospital to help contain the spread.
Health officials are intensifying surveillance, community sensitisation, and water treatment campaigns in collaboration with Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) partners to improve access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
Kashu highlighted the role of unsafe sanitation in spreading preventable diseases, noting that it exposes 38 million Kenyans to health risks. She urged residents to maintain high hygiene standards, treat drinking water, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms.
“The county has activated its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre and deployed rapid response teams to the affected areas,” she explained.
The county government is scaling up emergency response, risk communication, and laboratory support, working closely with the national Ministry of Health and other partners. Locals have been encouraged to report suspected cases of diarrhoea and vomiting to health authorities promptly.
“Cholera spreads rapidly in areas with poor sanitation and unsafe water. We urge residents to maintain high hygiene standards, treat drinking water, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms,” she said.
National and continental efforts
Kenya remains at the forefront of Africa’s fight against cholera, which continues to pose a significant public health threat. Classified as a high-priority country under the Cholera Continental Preparedness and Response Plan for Africa 1.0, Kenya reported 426 cases and 20 deaths in 2025, with outbreaks recorded in Kwale, Migori, Kisumu, and Nairobi.
Weak Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, especially in border areas and informal settlements, has contributed to transmission. The African Union’s Call to Action aims to eliminate cholera by 2030, and it was endorsed in June 2025 by Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema. Kenya has allocated Ksh476.4 million from a Ksh35.5 billion continental budget for vaccination campaigns, WASH improvements, and surveillance, targeting a reduction in Africa’s cholera cases from 203,572 to 46,764.