Chef Fired for Speaking Out About Food Poisoning at Mukumu Girls

The chef at Mukumu Girls’ High School, Douglas Muchela, was fired two months ago for speaking to the media about the food poisoning issue at the school.

Muchela said that he was dismissed for defying orders from his superiors, who told him not to speak to the media without their approval. He said that he was willing to risk his job because he felt it was important to speak out about what had happened at the school.

“I am now at home without a job and this is because I did what was necessary,” Muchela said. “I stand by the truth and what happened at Mukumu Girls’ was not right, that is why I spoke about it.”

Muchela’s firing comes after an outbreak that saw over 124 students hospitalized at the Kakamega County General Hospital in a suspected case of food and water poisoning. The Director General of Health, Patrick Amoth, said that the food the students consumed was contaminated with human faeces.

Muchela said that he believes the school leadership was unwilling to address the issues raised about the food poisoning because they did not want to be held accountable. He said that he is disappointed that he was fired for speaking out, but he is still committed to ensuring that the truth about what happened at Mukumu Girls’ High School is known.

The school principal, Jane Mbone, has not commented on Muchela’s firing.