Migori: Raila Odinga Postpones His Planned Visit Over Cholera Outbreak

• ODM leader Raila Odinga was expected to tour Migori county on Saturday, August 5, to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during anti-government protests
• Raila's visit was cancelled during the outbreak of cholera, which saw county health officials issue a warning to residents
• Migori ODM party chairman Philip Makabongo said the party will organise the visit at a later date

Migori - Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party leader Raila Odinga has called off his planned visit to Migori county until a future date.

Raila was to mourn protest victims

Migori ODM party chairman Philip Makabongo said the visit initially slated for Saturday, August 5, was postponed over the cholera outbreak that has been reported in the county.

Makabongo explained that having a huge gathering in the county might easily facilitate the wide spread of the disease, Citizen Digital reported.

He stated that the party will organise another visit for the opposition chief once health officials give a positive status report on the disease.

The former prime minister was expected to lead a candle-lighting exercise in paying tribute to victims of police brutality witnessed during the anti-government demonstrations in the county.

Cholera outbreak confirmed in Migori

The decision by the Orange party comes a few days after residents of Migori Town were urged to be extra cautious after cholera, a waterborne disease, was detected in some patients in the urban centre.

According to Julius Awuor Nyerere, Migori County Executive Committee (CEC) member in charge of health, three out of the eight suspected samples taken to the laboratory turned out positive.

“We conducted tests on individuals that portrayed symptoms related to the disease. Three out of eight samples we tested came back positive. The patients are in stable condition and are being attended to in isolation wards,” Awuor told TUKO.co.ke.

Awuor called on the residents to be on high alert and urgently report to health facilities whenever they manifested diarrhoea and vomiting.

He observed that timely reporting and observing high hygiene standards would help contain the disease from spreading widely across the county.

The county has also temporarily banned the roadside selling of food as part of containment measures as public health experts assess the situation.

"Those who are infected are isolated in the hospital, and we are also doing contact tracing. I am calling the general public to maintain hygiene and clean their hands properly before eating anything. We have also directed that street food vendors to close shop until the situation is assessed and managed,” he said.