This archive report was first published on 22 May 2020.
On May 22, 2020, the government extended the lockdown in Eastleigh and Old Town until June 6, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19.
However, local MPs are now urging the government to reconsider the lockdown, citing the economic hardship it has caused for residents.
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan noted that Eastleigh has a population of 260,000, with the majority of residents either unemployed or engaged in low-wage informal employment.
“Eastleigh has a population of 260,000 the overwhelming majority of its residents are either unemployed or engage in low wage informal employment and are struggling to make ends meet,” Mr Hassan said.
Abdulswammad Shariff Nassir, the MP for Mvita, expressed similar concerns about the lockdown in Old Town.
“It has not worked I do not see how it is going to work. Kwa sababu walifunga zile wiki mbili za kwanza. Lile la kufanya wangalikuwa wakisema kwamba baada ya kufunga hizi wiki mbili tulikuwa tunadhania tutaweza kufika kiwango flani au lengo letu litakuwa ni jambo Fulani. Lakini hivi ilivyo wameongeza wiki mbili nyingine,” he said.
