This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
Deputy President William Ruto's generosity has raised eyebrows in the past, but critics say he has been missing in action during the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the past two years, David Jasondu says, Deputy President William Ruto has been aggressively conducting fundraisers across the country, especially for churches. Though it raised eyebrows in some quarters, Jasondu believes it is a really a good gesture by the DP. However, since the coronavirus scourge set in, causing massive suffering, including job losses and collapsed businesses, his generosity appears to have dried up.
“Why can’t he now channel some of his millions into aid for the suffering Kenyans? If there was a time to invest in Heaven, as he has always said in defence of his fundraisers, this is it!”
Published on May 5, 2020
Samuel Chege is worried about the pace of testing in Kenya. “It seems like every 500 tests return 10 or 12 positive cases. Double the tests and you get twice the number of infections. When we are able to do 10,000 tests a day, don’t be shocked to get 200-300 positive cases.”
Like Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, Chege is advocating forced testing, if the people won’t volunteer, so as to have credible projections. The few tests “will keep giving us an illusion of safety. We are not safe until we can get a big sample space.”
Rose Wambui is concerned about the reckless actions of some individuals during the pandemic. She recently witnessed a guard at the old Nakumatt Lifestyle in Nairobi opening every car to check inside, with no sanitiser whatsoever.
“The guard at the entrance was opening every car to check inside, with no sanitiser whatsoever. With this kind of conduct, the virus can spread on every car door handle this man touches.”
She is, therefore, calling on public health officials to enforce the implementation of the safety measures and discourage these reckless actions.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has set a high bar with his daily coronavirus updates. Carey Yiembe would like to see other government officials emulate this, including the Interior ministry, the Judiciary, and the National Treasury.
“A team comprising the Interior ministry, the Judiciary and the National Treasury should also give their own daily briefs on new corruption cases, trials, convictions and jailing. We can’t just focus on one pandemic and leave this other equally virulent one unchecked!”
Njuguna Mwaniki is pleased that the culture of Nairobi residents is changing fast with many embracing ways to keep fit since the introduction of the partial lockdown.
“I’ve noticed a big increase in the number of people jogging early in the morning. I’ve been having health walks for years but I would only meet a handful of people.”
However, Bonventure Juma is lamenting the shoddy works in western Kenya, where fast-moving waters recently swept away Mayoni Bridge in Mumias.
“The contractor was fully aware of the perennial flooding by River Nzoia and should have been taken that into consideration when designing and building the bridge.”
