Suspend some projects and prioritise healthcare, counties told

County governments should suspend some projects and instead focus on stocking hospitals with drugs and other pharmaceuticals to win the war on the coronavirus.

This is according Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina, who said on Saturday that projects such as ongoing construction of roads and parking bays can wait.

Maina wants great emphasis placed on the fight against the virus and other lifestyle diseases, which have become a burden. He spoke at Whispers Park in Nyeri town, where he launched the distribution of 30,000 litres of hand sanitiser and 40,000 face masks to residents.

"County governments must immediately start looking at the welfare of their citizens. Let them concentrate on ensuring that healthcare is given priority,” Maina said.

The senator urged members of the public to adhere to the Health ministry’s guidelines if the country is to win the war on Covid-19.

“Let’s wash or sanitise our hands, wear face masks when in public spaces, keep social distancing and I'm sure we shall win the war on this disease,” he said.

The virus has claimed at least 342,000 lives across the world. In Kenya, 1192 cases have been confirmed. Of this, 580 people have recovered and 50 have died. 

Maina told people to seek divine intervention even as they comply with government directives.

He also appealed to the national government to increase the number of people receiving cash aid, especially those who lost their livelihoods following the Covid-19 crisis.

The lawmaker said the money will enable them to buy food and medicines and cushion them from the hard economic times.

For his part, Nyeri county commissioner Loyford Kibaara, who accompanied Maina, said other than the elderly beneficiaries of the Sh2,000 cash transfer, the government is also distributing Sh1,000 to the vulnerable, including orphans and those living with terminal illnesses and disabilities.

Kibaara said more than 12,500 households with about 45,000 people receive the money. Also targetted for help are flood victims. 

“We are in discussions with the Ministry of Special Programmes so that they can give us food aid for those whose businesses and jobs were affected by the pandemic,” he said.

Some people were left jobless after the government introduced measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, among them the dusk-to-dawn curfew and the ban on some businesses.

Meanwhile, Senator Maina called on those who have been campaigning prematurely for 2022 elections to desist and instead join President Uhuru Kenyatta in serving Kenyans.

"We only have one government of Jubilee and one President who is Uhuru Kenyatta. Ignore people who have been going round politicking or opposing the government’s resolve to fight corruption,” he said.

Maina supported the ongoing purge of rebel Jubilee MPs from key House positions, adding that he will stand by the President to ensure leaders work for the betterment of the country.

The remarks followed the removal of senators Kithure Kijndiki (Tharaka Nithi), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and Susan Kihika (Nakuru) as Senate deputy speaker, Majority leader and Majority chief whip respectively. 

On improvement of lives, Maina urged the government to speed up reforms started in tea and other agricultural sectors. People would not be facing the harsh economic hardships if prices of coffee, tea and milk were good, he said.

Money would still be in circulation in Nyeri county towns while people in the rural areas would be having cash to buy medicines and food, he added.

(Edited by F'Orieny)