This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
Published on August 23, 2020, the Kenyan government has taken steps to combat the spread of Covid-19 in market places. A taskforce, dubbed “Keep our Markets Open”, has been appointed to develop a self-sustaining, self-financing model for Covid-19 compliant market stalls and mobile market models within the next 30 days.
The committee, chaired by Prof Suki Mwendwa, aims to advise and oversee the implementation of measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 in market places. The taskforce will solicit views from members of the public and interest groups while preparing its report.
The committee's terms of reference include developing a strategy for keeping markets open in major urban centres in compliance with public health standards. Prof Mwendwa and his team are expected to submit an interim report after three weeks and a final one at the end of the committee's term.
The closure of most markets in March has had a significant impact on the economy, with the Central Bank of Kenya indicating that up to 75 per cent of small and medium enterprises were at risk of collapsing as at June. The taskforce's efforts aim to mitigate this impact and ensure the continued operation of markets.
