This archive report was first published on 4 June 2020.
On June 4, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was raging in Kenya, with the majority of cases reported in Nairobi's informal settlements and slums.
At the time, the government's response to the outbreak was criticized for being inadequate, with many arguing that the measures put in place were not sufficient to contain the spread of the virus.
One of the main concerns was the lack of mass testing, with the author arguing that this was a crucial step in controlling the spread of the virus.
The author noted that the government had the capacity to scale up testing, but was hindered by a lack of reagents and other resources.
They also argued that the government should prioritize testing over economic concerns, and that the relaxation of restrictions and reopening of schools should not be considered until testing data was available.
The author concluded that mass and fast testing was not negotiable, and that the government should take a data-led approach to controlling the spread of the virus.
