Cushion economy, public from critical impact of coronavirus

Kenya is in the grip of multiple socio-economic crises. Never since Independence have we had to juggle between such concurrent and parallel critical threats to our well-being as a nation. Our health, wealth and well-being as a nation are under critical threat by the coronavirus pandemic. This comes at a time when we are yet to resolve yet another significant threat to our food security, the desert locust invasion.

The government should be lauded for the efforts it has made thus far in responding to coronavirus. Commendable mitigation measures initiated so far include: restricting entry into the country to Kenyans and residents only and requiring entrants to self-quarantine; advising on health and hygiene measures including hand-washing, social-distancing and usage of masks; enhanced testing internally and at various points of entry; suspension of learning in all educational institutions; advising Kenyans to use cashless transactions; restricting unnecessary public congregations; closing open-air markets in various counties; closure of morgues and requiring burial within 24 hours of the bodies in various counties to avoid unnecessary and lengthy congregation; recommendation that both  public and private sector entities allow their employees to work from home; and restricting non-essential travel locally and internationally.