A food safety operation revealed that food trolleys used for selling popular street snacks like "mocha" were stored in public toilets.

Nairobi County’s Environment Chief Officer, Geoffrey Mosiria, discovered following a tip-off from concerned citizens about the unsanitary conditions in which these trolleys were kept.

PHOTO | COURTESY  Geoffrey Mosiria

Geoffrey took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to express his dismay at the unhygienic practice, thanking the whistleblower for alerting authorities. He emphasized that storing food trolleys in such places poses serious health risks, particularly the spread of foodborne diseases due to contamination.

I want to thank the person who discreetly reported the disturbing practice of storing food trolleys and other foodstuffs in a public toilet along Thika Road, specifically at the KEHNA toilets. This shows a shocking disregard for public health, with some prioritizing profit over… pic.twitter.com/z0ZyeLNRgA


The manager responsible for the KEHNA toilets was questioned, and Geoffrey warned that these poor hygiene practices should never be tolerated.

This isn’t the first time such an issue has been raised. A few weeks ago, similar food trolleys were discovered in back alleys and poorly ventilated storerooms in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD). Vendors, especially those operating at night, have reportedly been using public restrooms as makeshift storage facilities, highlighting the need for stricter hygiene standards.

PHOTO | COURTESY smocha trolleys

Street foods, especially snacks like "smocha," have gained popularity in Kenya’s urban areas due to their affordability and convenience. However, with the rise in demand, food safety and hygiene concerns have risen, particularly in crowded places with inadequate storage spaces.

Authorities are now cracking down on these unsanitary practices, urging consumers to be cautious when buying street food and encouraging vendors to maintain cleanliness to prevent health risks.