Recently, President Kenyatta chaired a meeting of a team of Kenyan leaders charged with leading response efforts to the coronavirus pandemic. Part of his strategy to combat the virus and dealing with its aftermath is reallocating funds to where they are most needed. This flexibility in budget allocation underlines the importance of resources being allocated fairly, according to need and population size.
Kenyatta’s new board of Kenyan leaders is led by East African Breweries Managing Director Jane Karuku. Together, they will rally Kenyans in the private and public sectors to raise resources to help the government’s response. Public-private partnerships of this nature have proven successful in implementing his policies before, and with this strong team, they’ll likely continue.
The meeting was held through video conference, setting an example for other politicians and businesses that it is possible to keep working despite not being able to physically meet. The President asked private sector leaders to offer him, and the administration, their full support during this period.
Ms Karuku assured him that her taskforce is committed to their duties and will work hard to be of service, noting that “We will pool our brains and resources to ensure every Kenyan is cushioned.”
Many employers have already expressed their trust in the President’s handling of the situation by working to prevent job losses due to the economic disruption, while the Kenya Pipeline Corporation has acted fast and shifted priorities to manufacturing and distributing hand sanitisers to Kenyans in need.
Another issue that arose is incidents of violence that occurred in several areas as police enforced the curfew. While police violence is completely unjustified in any circumstance, it is also essential that Kenyans respect the Ministry of Health guidelines to curb Covid-19. While other African presidents have given more power to their military at this time, Kenyatta has apologised for the cases when the police have acted inappropriately.
We can also be a little hopeful at this time. The first two patients to have been infected with coronavirus in Kenya have fully recovered.
Kenyatta spoke to Brenda and Brian, via video conference. Brenda had returned from abroad and felt unwell. Immediately upon sensing the symptoms, she presented herself to hospital in Nairobi and cooperated with the Ministry of Health by letting them know where she visited and the people she came in contact with. This step was vital in ensuring tracing of the contacts to curb spread of the virus.
Addressing Brenda, Kenyatta urged, “Your actions are to be emulated by every Kenyan. Come out and get tested as soon as you feel unwell. There is no stigma. Isolate yourself to ensure you do not put others in harm’s way.” Remember, at this time, it is not politics against the people. Kenyatta’s measures are designed to make sure that the government is working for us at this time. And if we are to benefit from that by having few coronavirus cases here as possible, we have to participate just like Brenda did.
Do not leave the house unless it's necessary, and keep away from crowded places. If you have to go to public places wear a mask. Life right now is very different from what we are used to, and for those who have no source of livelihood, it is a difficult period.
But we can trust that it will pass. Medical professionals are working around the clock, harder than they ever have, to save lives and prevent sickness. Let us make their jobs easier, and support the President until the situation improves.
- The writer is Igembe North MP
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