This archive report was first published on 20 April 2020.
On April 20, 2020, Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja introduced the Pandemic Response and Management Bill 2020, which seeks to cushion Kenyans from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill proposes that no Kenyan should be laid off or coerced into taking pay cuts during the pandemic period. Business operators will also not be required to pay trade licenses and land rates during this time.
According to Senator Sakaja, the bill aims to provide a framework for effective response and management of a pandemic to prevent its occurrence or spread.
Key provisions of the bill include measures to cushion landlords and tenants, such as allowing tenants to negotiate with landlords on repayment terms after the pandemic. The bill also proposes that penalties should not be imposed on defaulters, and they should not be listed by the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB) during the pandemic period.
Additionally, the bill suggests that the government may waive water and electricity charges for vulnerable persons and households or adjust tariff rates to reduce utility charges. It also proposes that there should be no disconnection for non-payment of utility bills.
Furthermore, the bill seeks to provide social safety schemes to support vulnerable persons, households, and informal sector workers whose incomes have been disrupted.
