Two remandees have died and 30 others been admitted following a cholera outbreak at Shimo la Tewa prison in Mombasa.

Erick Odhiambo and Hamisi Samba were serving sentences for stealing and rape, Coast Prisons boss James Kodeny told the media yesterday.

"The relatives of the deceased have been informed, and all the previous cases have been managed," Kodeny said.

"The county government has brought in medicine to help us solve out the problem."

He said the two died of diarrhoea-related complications at the prison's public health centre.

Kodeny said the admitted remandees have been isolated from other prisoners to prevent the disease from spreading.

He said preliminary investigations show that inmates at block C were infected by some remandees admitted last week.

The inmates were isolated and treated within the facility because of security concerns.

Kodeny said public health officials from Mombasa and Likoni have contained the outbreak.

"We have put our people under very strict medical surveillance," he said.

"Standards of cleanness for those coming in and out have also been upped, so there should be no cause for alarm."

Shimo la Tewa assistant commissioner Samuel Nyutu said the facility has set up preventive measures.

He cited chlorination and disinfection of solid and liquid waste.

Nyutu said the facility has banned food from outside as way of controlling and sanitation of prison facility.

At least four people have died in the county after cholera broke out in Likoni, Tudor and Kisauni.

The county government has shut down kiosks selling food and water and set up an isolation wards.

County Health director Khadija Shikely has urged residents to observe proper personal hygiene.