This archive report was first published on 8 June 2020.
As the war against Covid-19 intensifies, President Uhuru Kenyatta has sounded the alarm over the readiness of counties to tackle the pandemic. According to the latest statistics from the Health ministry, infections have spread to 38 out of the 47 counties, with transmission becoming community-based.
Speaking over the weekend, President Kenyatta highlighted the cases of Siaya and Busia counties, which have inadequate facilities to deal with the pandemic. Siaya has a 10-bed isolation facility, while Busia has 34 beds, with the latter fast becoming a hotspot due to the movement of truckers crossing over to Uganda.
With the government having allocated Sh5 billion to counties to manage Covid-19, the big question is whether they are well-equipped and prepared to manage medical services, which is a devolved function. The allocation is a special fund meant to help counties set up facilities to handle the pandemic.
However, evidence has emerged of wastage and misappropriation of funds, leading to weak health infrastructure across the country. The situation is further compounded by depressing reports of misuse and pilferage of Covid-19 funds at the national level.
Against this backdrop, a meeting between President Kenyatta and the governors is scheduled for tomorrow. The meeting is expected to provide a candid assessment of counties' emergency preparedness as well as national government's support.
