Coronavirus originated from China, they should write off Kenya’s debt

Starehe MP Charles Njagua Kanyi aka Jaguar on Thursday opined that China should write off Kenya’s debt and the money should be channeled towards other activities.

Through Twitter, the lawmaker argued that telling those who live from hand to mouth to stay at home is not the best decision unless the government provides for them.

“Coronavirus originated from China. They have to write off Kenya's Sh.650 billion debt. We can channel repayments to small traders and informal settlements like Mukuru.

“We cannot convince people who live from hand to mouth to stay at home unless we provide for them,” he said.

Adding: Social protection measures must be in place before lockdown of congested. For example, suspension of rent and loans for the duration of the lockdown.

“The provision of free food. Utilities used within this period such as water and electricity has to be free.”

The MP was heavily criticized for his reasoning and was accused of looking for sympathy from residents of his constituency.

On Wednesday, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe announced that the number of those infected with Coronavirus in Kenya had risen to seven and urged the public to observe personal hygiene.

He said all the cases are from people who had flown into the country from abroad.

Two of the new cases are a couple that had travelled from Madrid, Spain, on March 4 through Dubai and arrived in the country on March 5.

“Kenyans travelling from other countries will have to sign a legal form saying they will self-quarantine, this will allow the government to jail them should they fail to isolate. Travellers from other countries are the biggest threat,” Kagwe said.

The third case was a Burundian national who travelled from Dubai to Kenya arriving on March 17. The patient recorded high temperatures during the routine screening at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.

“That establishes what we have been saying all along, we are able to screen and we are able to pick and we able to determine. So this one was a case in point, an establishment of that fact,” he noted.

Tracing of the individuals who were in contact with the patients is ongoing.