Nairobi — A police officer and a businessman accused of murdering the son of former assistant minister Patrick Muiruri were among hundreds of suspects not produced in court following the outbreak of cholera at Kamiti Maximum Prison.

Lady Justice Jessie Lessit was told by a State counsel: "There is a quarantine that all prisoners detained at Kamiti Prison should not leave the remand facility." Trials and appeals of inmates at the law courts were affected by the quarantine.

As a result Mr Dickson Mwangi Munene and Mr Alexander Chepkonga, charged with the murder of Mr James Ng'ang'a Muiruri, were not produced in court. Even as this happened, water and sanitation officers warned Nairobi residents against drawing water from burst pipes to avert further spread of cholera.

The officers from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company advised residents to draw water only from taps. Led by the director of Water Resources, Mr John Nyaoro, they toured Dandora, Korogocho, Huruma and Mukuru kwa Njenga slums, and appealed to residents to observe personal hygiene to avoid contracting the highly contagious disease.

"Let each of you take personal precaution. Wash your hands after visiting the toilet and before eating anything. Also ensure the container you use for drawing water is clean," Mr Nyaoro told the residents. The team also tested random water samples from various points supplied by NWSC to ensure that they had adequate chlorine to kill the cholera germ.

The officials' tour comes in the wake of reports that Kenyatta National Hospital has been receiving four to five cholera patients daily. The hospital hinted at a possible outbreak in the country. Mr Nyaoro said since the first cases were reported a few weeks ago, the ministry had tested water supplied by Nairobi water company and found it safe.

Private tankers

However, he added that tests found some samples from private water tankers unsafe and advised residents to boil or chlorinate water from vendors. Meanwhile, the Water ministry on Wednesday airlifted 100,000 water treatment tablets to Turkana where the disease was also reported to have claimed some lives, said to Mr Nyaoro. The director of Public Health, Dr Shanaz Shariff, could not confirm the number of those who have died in Turkana, but said that 15 patients had been admitted to hospital.

What is cholera?

An acute diarrhoeal disease caused by a bacterial infection (vibrio cholerae)The germ thrives in dirty conditions and spreads through contaminated water or food.Infected persons get dehydrated fast because of the loss of body fluids.

What are the symptoms?

Sudden diarrhoea, which is painless. Vomiting. Muscle pains.

How can you avoid contracting cholera?

Wash your hands with soap after visiting the toilet. Eat well-cooked and warm food. Drink chlorine-treated or boiled water. Avoid food sold on the streets.