By Peter Ochieng

Kisumu City management has put hotel, lodging and guest house owners on notice.

Reason? The aforementioned and a section of residential areas in the Lake side City have been invaded by mosquitoes, bedbugs, rats and other insect vectors.

In a notice seen by Nairobi Review Africa, Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga reminded hotel, lodging and guest house owners that are contravening the public health act cap 242 by ‘harbouring’ insects and rodents in their premises.

He said the matter came to their attention after an assessment was carried out.

“Kisumu City department of health conducted a rapid assessment and found that there is an increase of mosquitoes, bedbugs and high infestation of rats and other vectors in most of the hotels, guest houses, lodging rooms and other dwelling areas within the City of Kisumu,” said Wanga.

However, Wanga did not reveal what informed the assessment, and when it was specifically conducted.

He says the situation, if not arrested soon will continue serving as a nuisance to residents of Kisumu.

The City Manager directed proprietors to carry out fumigation and or indoor residual spraying using approved insecticides, carry our deratting of rodents with appropriate and approved public heath deratting poisons, and improve the rigor on control of bedbugs.

Owners have fourteen days to implement the directives or face legal actions.

“Failure to comply with the requirements of this notice may lead to legal action instituted against you without any further communications,” warned the City Manager.

As one of the counties bordering Lake Victoria, Kisumu has all along been known to have a high rate of mosquitoes leading to high malaria prevalence.

Other counties neighboring Lake Victoria are Busia, Siaya, Homabay and Migori.