This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On May 11, 2020, Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Beverly Opwora and Governor Muthomi Njuki were fumigated at a booth along the Embu-Meru Highway. Photo by KNA.
Tharaka Nithi County has intensified its fight against the coronavirus pandemic by setting up fumigation booths at entry points from other counties. The county government has also warned businesspeople against selling fake sanitizers.
According to Governor Muthomi Njuki, the county government, with support from the national government, has heightened precautions against the deadly virus by securing entry points along the busy Embu-Meru Highway.
"It has come to our attention that some unscrupulous businessmen are either diluting chemicals or selling counterfeit ones to innocent residents who have no idea about the alcohol content that should be contained in effective sanitizers," Governor Njuki said.
The governor cautioned those exploiting the pandemic to make a profit that their days were numbered. He emphasized that there were viable sources of income, such as agribusiness, and that there was no excuse to engage in malpractices that exposed innocent residents to the highly contagious virus.
"Whereas there are quite a number of people who have lost their jobs under the coronavirus menace, there are other viable sources of income like agribusiness and hence there is no excuse to engage in malpractices that expose innocent residents to the highly contagious virus," Governor Njuki said.
He urged residents to share available food with their neighbors during difficult times, as it would be inhuman to watch others die from hunger while having stores full.
Present during the event was Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Beverly Opwora, who cautioned those transporting food or other essential items to desist from carrying unauthorized goods or passengers to or out of the county.
Ms. Opwora stressed that even miraa transporting vehicles that were authorized to have only two people and those found ferrying people from Nairobi to the county would soon be apprehended and stern legal action would be taken against them.
"It is unfortunate that some of those delivering essential services, especially miraa vehicles, are transporting items that are not on the list of their authorized goods, but the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them," Ms. Opwora warned.
