This archive report was first published on 10 May 2020.
EDITORIAL: Culture Change Key in Defeating Disease ¶
Published on May 10, 2020, at 22:00
As the government steps up efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Kenya, it has become clear that a total culture change is urgently needed across the whole population.
The government has rolled out measures to tackle the disease, including a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew and restrictions on movement in some counties deemed as hotspots. However, more needs to be done to ensure the effectiveness of these measures.
A comprehensive sensitization campaign is necessary to educate Kenyans on the benefits of adhering to handwashing, social distancing, and wearing face masks. This campaign should be carried out across the country to ensure that everyone is aware of the importance of these measures.
Security personnel also need to be humane when enforcing the regulations. Some rogue officers have turned the compliance to wearing face masks into a rent-seeking endeavor, which negates the purpose of instilling discipline.
Reports of people being brutally beaten for violating the night curfew, sometimes fatally, are not the way to instill adherence to the regulations. The impact of social distancing and restrictions on businesses like bars and restaurants is also negatively affecting consumer spending, leading to further job cuts and unpaid leave for workers.
It is no longer business as usual, and Kenyans should adopt the rules rolled out by the government without fail. A complete culture change will go a long way in curbing the spread and eventually containing the pandemic. However, success lies in the change being an inane instinct rather than short-lived acts aimed at fooling the enforcers.
