This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Published on June 5, 2020, as Kenya marked 84 days since the first COVID-19 case was confirmed, the country was eager to return to normalcy. However, the world was still learning about the virus, and a vaccine was far from being available.
Kenya was suffering an economic shock, with Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge warning that 75 percent of SMEs could fold that month. The health emergency and economic shutdown represented two parts of a "trilemma" that included a social/societal dimension.
Experts pointed to Uganda and South Africa as examples of countries that had successfully phased and socially-distanced "reopening". Uganda had begun a phased reopening, while South Africa had implemented a data-driven, five-level alert system.
Kenya could learn from these examples and develop a careful and phased agenda for reopening. This would involve controlling virus spread, strengthening health capacity, and enhancing testing. It would also require a focus on protecting vulnerable groups and reducing new infections.
On the economic dimension, the private sector must lead in implementing workplace guidelines, tools, and practices. Mapping private sector and workers to assess different sub-sectoral impacts would be crucial. The keywords "resilience, sustainability, and self-reliance" would be central to this dimension.
On the social dimension, it's time to take a different approach. "Bash and clobber" is no way to "flatten the curve" or fight the virus. Instead, Kenyans must fully buy into the overall "remake" strategy and embrace non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). The keywords "trust and participation" would be essential in this regard.
