This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
As the country grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, several government offices have been forced to scale down operations after dozens of employees tested positive for the virus.
The National Treasury, Public Service Commission, and Ministry of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) headquarters are among the offices affected, with mass testing of staff underway to determine the extent of infections.
At the National Treasury in Nairobi, 10 workers tested positive for COVID-19 after screening 50 people last week. In a memo dated July 13, Principal Administrative Secretary Amos Gathecha revealed a 20 per cent infection rate, stating, 'Towards this end, we have requested the Ministry of Health to conduct testing for all staff of National Treasury. The testing will commence on July 14 at 9am and will go on for three days. They will test 200 cases every day.'
Similar disruptions were reported at the Ministry of ICT, innovation and youth affairs offices at the Telposta Towers in Nairobi, following a fatality case of COVID-19 disease. In a memo signed by broadcast Principal Secretary Esther Koimmet, operations were scaled down temporarily from July 15 to July 24, with staff directed to work from home.
Other affected offices include the Public Service Commission, which scaled down operations after 10 employees in Nairobi tested positive for the virus, and the Ministry of Lands headquarters at Ardhi House and Survey of Kenya, which were closed for two weeks in June.
