This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
On May 6, 2020, the Mombasa County government was forced to suspend its mass testing drive in Old Town following days of confrontation with area residents.
The residents were reportedly angered by Governor Hassan Joho's recent statement that they would be required to undergo testing. Despite the efforts of health officials, only 197 people presented themselves for testing over the course of three days, out of a targeted population of 28,000.
Angry residents had barricaded roads, making it difficult for medical personnel and ambulances to access the area. County chief health officer Aisha Abubakar stated that the exercise was halted to avoid putting the lives of health workers at risk.
Abubakar explained that the decision was made to conduct a sensitization exercise to educate the residents on the importance of mass testing. Old Town, a popular tourist destination, had recorded 39 positive cases of Covid-19 by Tuesday, making it the area with the highest number of infections in Mombasa County, which had a total of 170 cases at the time.
Residents expressed concerns about the stigma associated with the contagious disease, with some calling on Governor Joho to apologize for his recent remarks. Swaleh Farah, a resident of Old Town, urged the governor to stop issuing threats and allow residents to undergo testing willingly.
Farah stated, 'Let us be allowed to do it willingly. It is a matter of health and everyone is entitled to privacy.'
Meanwhile, Governor Joho had commended the residents of Likoni for their cooperation during a mass testing exercise in the area, which had received an overwhelming response. However, he expressed disappointment at the defiance of Old Town residents and warned that his administration would not tolerate their actions.
Mombasa County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo condemned attempts to disrupt the mass testing exercise, stating that those responsible would face the full force of the law.
