This archive report was first published on 21 June 2020.
On March 13, 2020, Kenya registered its first COVID-19 case, a woman who had traveled back to the country from the United States. (1) Since then, the number of cases has skyrocketed to 4,738, with 1,602 documented recoveries and 121 deaths.
As the country marks 100 days since the first case, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mutahi Kagwe, reflected on the journey, saying, "Today marks 100-days since the first case, and it has been a journey one which has familiarized us with such terms as ‘Social distancing,’ ‘contact tracing,’ ‘quarantine,’ and ‘community spread.’"
With 40 out of 47 counties reporting COVID-19 cases, the government and the Ministry of Health have implemented various measures to contain the spread of the virus, including wearing face masks, keeping social distance, regular handwashing, and the use of hand sanitizers.
However, the journey has not been without its challenges. CS Kagwe noted that Kenya had never had a situation that required mass testing of individuals, and the Ministry had no framework or experience on how to deal with the disease and regulations on whose responsibility it should be.
He also highlighted the shortage of reagents and testing kits, as well as the need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to protect healthcare workers.
Despite these challenges, the Health Ministry has made significant progress in containing the virus. The testing capacity has increased significantly, with 59,958 samples tested in June, up from 3,419 in March.
The financial allocations from development partners and donors have enhanced the testing capacity, and the distribution of free masks to vulnerable communities has also been a significant milestone.
Additionally, the government has taken steps to revive the economy, including pushing the curfew hours to 9 pm and 4 am.
