Uhuru: Why I made Kagwe the only Covid spokesperson
“Poor communication results in confusion."
1d agoMAGDALINE SAYARealtime
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has recalled how the country dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic that hit the world in 2020.
Uhuru described 2020 as one that will always stand out around the globe where the world practically came to a standstill.
Uhuru was the President when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world and he had to give directives and measures to avert deaths in the country.
Uhuru said as President at the time in consultation with his Cabinet found it prudent to set up a National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus.
The role of the committee chaired by the then Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, was to steer the country navigate the uncertain season.
This was with an emphasis on co-coordinating capacity building of medical personnel and other professionals to enable the country to respond quickly and effectively to any suspected cases or outbreaks of the virus.
The Committee was tasked with enhancing surveillance at all ports/points of entry in Kenya, and preparation of national, county and private isolation and treatment facilities.
They also coordinated the supply of testing kits critical medical products and supplies, pharmaceuticals, masks and other protective gear as well as identified isolation and treatment facilities.
The committee would also conduct economic impact assessments and develop mitigation strategies for the disease among other responsibilities.
“We banned all public gatherings giving some reprieve to the churches and business at large with strict measures on how they were to conduct business. However, within no time it became impossible to keep that going and we had to pull the plug on all in-house gatherings and instituted a total lockdown,” the former President said.
“This was a bitter pill to swallow but a necessary measure to help curb the virus and protect the people.”
He said to keep Kenyans informed and give hope, the CS gave daily briefings assisted by the Chief Administrative Secretary, Director of General Health as well as the government spokesperson.
“The other point of communication was yours truly. This would majorly happen when a landmark decision needed to be made. Like the lockdown, economic stimulus, call for calm and so on. On several occasions I was flanked by leaders of the opposition to further reassure Kenyans that this was truly a national crisis,” he said.
Uhuru said that he upgraded some of the health facilities to Level 5 Referral hospitals to help with patient control.
The President said that the public sector and private sector as well as the military joined forces in handling the ballooning number of patients.
“As a government, we went ahead and put in resources to build hospitals to increase the capacity of the existing medical facilities,” he added.
He said the government created a Covid-19 funds kitty to fund emergency response towards containing the spread, effects and impact of the pandemic.
The former President said that he and his deputy took an 80 per cent pay cut, Cabinet Secretaries 30 per cent and Principal Secretaries as well as other top State officials took a voluntary pay cut of 20 per cent to back the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Medical products and supplies were running low and with the entire globe fighting the pandemic it became difficult to readily access the products,” Uhuru said.
“Upon consultations, with stakeholders on the medical front, we commissioned our manufacturing industry to make ICU beds and units from scratch, increase oxygen production and systems, masks, PPEs, sanitisers and all manner of medical equipment.”
Uhuru said the government designed a stimulus package to help the country get through the COVID-19 crisis.
For people earning 24 thousand shillings and below they were relieved from tax deductions among other taxes.
The President further said the government reduced VAT by 2 per cent and also introduced kazi-mtaani, a program that engaged the youth workforce in cleaning activities around their communities at a fee.
The move, he said, went a long way in preventing dirt-related illnesses like diarrhoea, cholera and malaria. It also kept the youth engaged and kept them from indulging in crime-related vices.
The former President said Africa managed to vaccinate her people but through a lot of struggle.
He said countries graciously shared what they received as donations from friendly states to keep the continent alive and give it hope.
The former President spoke on Wednesday during the East Africa Regional Global Health Security Summit 2025 in Mombasa.
“We are here today to deliberate on Global Health Security Systems, something that is critical and crucial because it comes at a time when we need to be prepared for every sort of pandemic. Covid-19 got us flat-footed,” he said.
Uhuru said that it is an opportunity to discuss, ways and means of how we can be better prepared to equally face any pandemic that may arise.
“Let us learn through the grace of God that cooperation, partnership and understanding that led to our victory over the Covid-19 pandemic is what will guarantee the future safety and prosperity of our continent,” he said.