The government has issued a public alert to the public following a harzadous incident in which a truck carrying sodium cyanide overturned in Kiambu. The incident is said to have happened at Kambembe area in Rironi causing spillage of the highly toxic substance. In a statement, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni urged the residents to avoid the area and instead cooperate fully with the authorities.
“The ministry advises the public to avoid the site of the incident and to cooperate with our emergency and disaster response teams as they work to contain the situation,” she said.
According to Muthoni, the substance is extremely toxic and ingestion or inhalation of even small amounts can be fatal.
Exposure, she noted, can cause immediate symptoms such as headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, and vomiting.