Double tragedy as two brothers die of Cholera in Thika

It is a double tragedy for a family in Komo Village, Kiambu County after two brothers aged 50 and 42 years old died in a span of 48 hours of what is suspected to be Cholera in Thika Town constituency.

Stephen Njoroge, 50, died at the waiting bay at Thika level Hospital last Tuesday where he was rushed to receive treatment after severe diarrhea and vomiting, but he passed away as his family was waiting for results from the laboratory.

His brother Francis Karanja, 42, died this week on Thursday at 4pm while undergoing treatment at the same facility where he was admitted.

On Tuesday, the two brothers were taken for a Cholera test at the Kiambu County-run facility, and Karanja’s result turned out to be positive but negative for Njoroge, who died before the results were out.

According to the family, the two are suspected to have fed on mudfish that were caught on contaminated Komo River last weekend.

"My husband did not eat from home last Sunday but on Monday, he was very weak, vomiting every minute and having diarrhea, on Tuesday, we passed by his brother's home and we were shocked to find that he was suffering from the same. We took both of them to Munyu health center and they were attended to," Nellious Njeri, Karanja's wife narrated.

At Munyu health center, the two brothers were put on IV Drips and Karanja recovered. Njoroge’s health deteriorated and he was transferred to Thika level 5 Hospital but the family decided to take both of them to the facility for advanced checks.

Villagers at Komo village have heavily criticized the Thika Water and Sewerage Company (THIWASCO) for allegedly releasing raw sewer into the Komo River, putting their lives in great danger.

The color of the water at Komo River has turned relatively black and the flow of the black fluid is producing a foul smell and white foam down the stream which the residents suspect that is caused by raw sewer.

"THIWASCO allows raw sewer to flow in this river, when it rains, people come to catch fish from this river and they sell them to traders at Komo and Munyu shopping centres who then fry and sell them at very cheap prices," Tabitha Gathoni told Citizen Digital.

Cholera outbreak in Kiambu County was announced about a month ago, and Governor Kimani Wamatangi has been blamed for not taking serious measures to curb the spread of the deadly disease.

Komo residents have called on the governor to order public health officers to move with speed in stopping the spread of the waterborne disease in the county.