This archive report was first published on 4 August 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread, the Devolution Ministry has been severely affected, with operations at its departments expected to come to a near-halt for the next two weeks.
On July 23, 2020, mass testing for Covid-19 was conducted, revealing that 18 out of 128 employees tested positive for the disease. In response, Principal Secretary Charles Sunkuli has ordered all staff to self-isolate from August 3 to 16.
According to a memo sent by Sunkuli to department heads and circulated to the media, the officers will be subjected to another mass testing on August 17 upon resuming work. This move aims to ensure the safety of all employees and prevent further spread of the virus.
Devolution Ministry is not the only government institution affected by the pandemic. The National Assembly and Senate have also implemented health safety protocols to combat the spread of the virus, including social distancing, prohibiting swapping seats, and closure of courts.
On July 29, Chief Justice David Maraga ordered the closure of Milimani Law Courts after a staff member tested positive for the virus. The CJ revealed that the staff member had interacted with others, prompting the closure for two weeks to allow for self-quarantine.
Other incidents include the closure of Makadara Law Court, Rongo court, and Mombasa Law Court after employees tested positive for the virus. The government has introduced safety protocols to combat the virus, including a dusk-to-dawn curfew, wearing of face masks, and social distancing.
