This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
As the partial lockdown set to end on July 6, 2020, veteran lawyer Dr. John Khaminwa has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider opening the country. In a statement shared by Nelson Havi, the President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Dr. Khaminwa argued that deaths are inevitable and that Kenyans have a right to be sick and to die.
Dr. Khaminwa acknowledged that the situation is a catch-22, but emphasized that the economy must be opened to prevent more lives from being lost. He also cited the example of President Magufuli of Tanzania, who has taken a similar approach to handling the pandemic.
Dr. Khaminwa's statement, dated July 4, 2020, reads in part: 'Let our President open the Country on Monday 6TH July, 2020. We are planning to celebrate his announcement.' He also emphasized that the government cannot police the lives of 50 million people and that it is the responsibility of each individual to look after themselves.
President Kenyatta is expected to make an address to the nation later on July 6, 2020.
