The Ministry of Labour carried out an extensive sensitisation exercise in Eldoret City focused on occupational safety and health in the workplace, targeting formal and informal workers.

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The Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) organised a medical camp and awareness forum at the Uasin Gishu County headquarters as part of activities marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Hundreds of workers, particularly from the jua kali sector, attended the event.

The exercise offered medical screening alongside educational sessions on workplace safety, with officials warning that many workers continue to suffer from preventable health conditions linked to their working environments.

Senior medical officer at DOSH, Dr Irene Rono, said the outreach was designed to reach vulnerable workers, who often lack regular access to occupational health services.

She said many of those screened reported health concerns such as hearing loss, musculoskeletal problems and respiratory conditions, which she attributed to prolonged exposure to hazardous working conditions.

Rono emphasised the need for employers and workers to take responsibility for safety in the workplace, noting that productivity is closely tied to health and wellbeing.

“We hope employers will do much more to improve safety and health issues for workers to perform better,” she said, urging the strict use of protective gear.

Uasin Gishu clinical officer Viola Sailei said the county government is working to promote safer and more conducive working environments, especially in the informal sector.

She said workers should also be aware of underlying health conditions such as diabetes and other chronic illnesses that may affect their productivity and safety.

“Health is wealth, and someone who is unwell cannot be productive to create wealth,” she said.

Head of field operations at DOSH, Ondimu Nyabwari, said the government remains committed to improving safety standards across public and private workplaces.

He said the programme aligns with this year’s global theme, which focuses on promoting psychosocially safe working environments as a pathway to healthier workers and stronger organisations.

Nyabwari said the department will continue collaborating with employers to strengthen compliance and improve workplace safety standards nationwide.