This archive report was first published on 5 July 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has praised Africa's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying the continent has rolled out proactive measures that have helped save lives despite limited resources.
Speaking during a webinar on post-Covid-19 reconstruction at State House, Nairobi, the President noted that Africa has responded better to the pandemic than most other parts of the world, with a relatively weaker resource base.
"For a continent with 1.2 billion people, we have about 400,000 confirmed cases and just over 10,000 deaths," the President said, adding that this is about 15% of the cases in the United States and 7% of US deaths.
President Kenyatta warned against complacency, saying the pandemic is likely to get worse in coming months and urged African leaders to continue working together to craft interventions that enhance the resilience of the continent's vulnerable populations.
He also emphasized the importance of peer learning, data-driven decision-making, pragmatism, and regular and transparent communication in the fight against Covid-19.
Using the example of Kenya, the President highlighted the role of religious leaders in containing the spread of the virus, saying they provide critical outreach to vulnerable communities and have an extensive network of faith-based health and education infrastructure.
"I am working hand in hand with religious organisations who are influential voices in shaping personal and community responses to Covid-19," the President told the global audience.
