DP Ruto suspends public rallies until further notice

Deputy President William Ruto has suspended all public engagement following increased cases of Covid-19 in the country.

DP Ruto’s move came hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta extended the nationwide night curfew for 60 days as part of measures aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus.

While making the announcement on Friday, Uhuru said the pandemic remains a threat to Kenyans’ health and livelihoods with the positivity rate at 14 per cent, the highest this year.

Political gatherings have also been banned for another 30 days, with police being urged to enforce the measures strictly regardless of the political class.

The Covid19 infection rates have become a serious source of concern making it necessary for GoK to take remedial measures to manage and contain the pandemic. With the President's announcement of containment measures, I forthwith suspend all public engagement until further notice.

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) March 12, 2021

“The Covid-19 infection rates have become a serious source of concern making it necessary for GoK to take remedial measures to manage and contain the pandemic. With the President's announcement of containment measures, I forthwith suspend all public engagement until further notice,” said DP Ruto on Twitter.

As of Saturday, 10 am, March 12, a total of 111,935 Covid-19 cases had been confirmed in Kenya after 750 more tested positive on Friday. The cumulative tests conducted so far stand at 1,358,390.

Deputy President William Ruto addresses residents of Port Victoria during the Boda Boda Empowerment in Budalangi, Busia County. [DPPS/Susan Ndorio]

About 215 people have recovered while two have died, pushing the cumulative fatalities to 1,901.

On Wednesday, March 10, Health CS Kagwe Mutahi raised alarm over rising Covid-19 infections in Kenya after the country recorded its highest number of confirmed cases in a day (713) since December 2020.

“As we had predicted, starting March the numbers have begun to rise,” Kagwe told the press.

Further, CS Kagwe dispelled doubts that the Covid-19 vaccine was ineffective and unsafe warning Kenyans against spreading misleading information.

Kagwe dispelled doubts on the AstraZeneca vaccine, saying all vaccines have undergone an approval test by the World Health Organization (WHO) before rollout.

“The Health ministry recommends approval by a stringent agency. We have established an independent safety monitoring board to advise on the vaccination programme,” he said.

The Ministry also said it plans to vaccinate about 15 million people by end of June 2023 in three phases.