Citizen TV Staffer Dies, Several Hospitalised Over Food Poisoning
The firm was contracted to provide the food to the staff since Christmas Day and has been said to continue doing so even on Tuesday.
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A female staffer working at Royal Media Services (RMS), the parent company of Citizen TV, has died and several other staff have been admitted to hospital after suffering from food poisoning.
Speaking to Viral Tea on Tuesday, December 27, a source at the Kilimani-based media house revealed on condition of anonymity that the employees who were working during Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, developed stomach complications after consuming food that was provided to them through a private catering company.
The firm was contracted to provide the food to the staff since Christmas Day and has been said to continue doing so even on Tuesday.
"I only ate the food on Christmas day. I have had a stomach upset since the day before yesterday.
"But for others, it's worse. Serious cases started today morning. People were being rushed to hospital," the source told Viral Tea.
RMS Group Managing Director Wachira Waruru confirmed the incident, stating that the media house had contracted the company in line with holiday period working arrangements.
He noted that the complaints began on Monday, December 26 when some of the employees had reported having stomach pains after consuming the meals within the company.
"The Royal Media Services RMS is saddened to confirm a serious case of food poisoning that affected a significant number of staff working over the Christmas shift. In keeping with holiday period working arrangements, the RMS engaged a private food catering company to provide meals for staff working during the Christmas shift.
"On Boxing Day December 26, 2022, some of the staff complained of severe stomach pains after consuming meals served within the premises of the company," Waruru stated in part in a press release sent to newsrooms.
He expressed his sorrow on learning that the staffer had died of the illness attributed to the poisoning and sent his condolences to the family of the deceased.
"We are deeply shocked and saddened to inform the public that one staff member has unfortunately succumbed to the illness attributed to the suspected food poisoning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our deceased staff member during this difficult time," he added.
Several staffers have also been hospitalized for the suspected poisoning. RMS further noted that it is providing all the necessary support to the affected staff and that the suspected food poisoning incident is currently under investigation.
The company was offering a buffet meal to the employees during the Christmas shift. A buffet meal consists of several food options available to customers on a self-serve basis, meaning the cause of food poisoning is hard to detect.
According to Mayo Clinic, the illness is caused by eating contaminated food. Infectious organisms, including bacteria, viruses and parasites or their toxins are the most common causes of food poisoning.
Infectious organisms or their toxins can contaminate food at any point in processing or production. Contamination can also occur at home if food is incorrectly handled or cooked.
A woman holding her stomach after suffering from food poisoning. /FILE
Food poisoning symptoms, which can start within hours of eating contaminated food, often include nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. Most often, food poisoning is mild and resolves without treatment but some people need to go to the hospital.
Neither the media house, which owns Citizen TV, Radio Citizen, Ramogi TV, Inooro TV, Hot 96, Viusasa among others, nor the medical team which was deployed to attend to the affected staff, revealed the real cause of the poisoning by the time of publication.
