Diarrhoea-causing bacteria found on most chicken farms studied: what it means, and how to eat chicken safely
Researchers found Campylobacter, a common cause of diarrhoea, on 63% of 340 poultry farms studied in Murang'a, a major supplier of chicken to Nairobi. Proper cooking kills it. Here is what the study found and the simple kitchen habits that keep your family safe.
A new study in the International Journal of Microbiology has found Campylobacter bacteria on most of the chicken farms it tested in Murang'a County, one of the biggest suppliers of chicken meat to Nairobi.
What the study found
| Measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Farms tested | 340 poultry farms |
| Farms with Campylobacter | 63.2%, nearly two in three |
| Kienyeji (indigenous) chicken farms | 60.6% positive |
| Layer farms | 82.6% positive |
| Biggest risk factor | Poor hygiene: wet, dirty poultry houses made farms about 2.9 times more likely to have infected birds. Larger flocks also raised the risk |
What is Campylobacter?
It is one of the world's most common causes of food poisoning. Chickens often carry it in their gut without looking sick. It can get onto meat during slaughter and handling, and into people who eat undercooked chicken or food touched by raw chicken. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach pain and fever, usually lasting a few days.
How to eat chicken safely
- Cook it through. No pink meat, and juices should run clear. Take extra care with thick pieces and when roasting on a jiko.
- Keep raw away from cooked. Store raw chicken below and apart from ready-to-eat food, and use a separate plate for cooked chicken.
- Wash after handling. Clean hands, knives, chopping boards and surfaces with soap and hot water after touching raw chicken.
- Don't wash raw chicken under the tap. Splashing spreads bacteria around the sink. Cooking does the job.
- Get help if sick. Drink plenty of fluids. See a health worker if diarrhoea is bloody, lasts more than a few days, or affects a baby, an older person or someone who is pregnant.
What farmers can do
- Keep poultry houses clean and dry, and manage litter well.
- Clean feeders and drinkers regularly.
- Limit movement of people, equipment and birds between houses (biosecurity).
Kenya's kienyeji chicken population grew 9.2% in 2024 while broiler numbers fell 8.7%, so good hygiene on smaller farms matters more and more.
