The Public Health ministry has blamed the inappropriate use of mosquito nets for the rising cases of malaria in Bomet district. Bomet public health officer Micah Koech a survey has shown that most residents are not using the nets as instructed by the experts.

"It's the rains season and we anticipated the rise in malaria cases. Our survey shows that locals still do not know how to use their mosquito, but we will move out again to ensure the nets are properly used and for the purpose they are intended," he said.

Koech was speaking during a community health stakeholders meeting in Bomet yesterday. He said some women, who are at a higher risk of being affected by malaria, are using the nets to decorate their houses. "I was surprised to find that some residents have converted mosquito nets into poultry enclosures while in others are using them as fences to keep off hens and other pets from the farms. This is very wrong," said Koech.

Medical officer of health Nickson Mutai said they had received mosquito nets from the government to distribute to the residents. He appealed to the residents not to misuse the mosquito nets, adding that community health officers will go round the district to educate the residents on proper use of the nets to stop the spread of malaria.