Kenyans in large numbers have chosen to disobey the health guidelines issued by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They are going on with their business snubbing ‘stay at home’orders.
Even the social distance rule continued is being flouted as many mingled and socialize away from home.
Entertainmeny joints icluding bars have shut their doors but the country still remains unbothered by the threats posed by careless mingling that they blame on the ‘hand to mouth’ way of life. Statics show that 80% of Kenyans are in informal employment.
In a video that has gone viral, Eldoret West OCS Mike Lekalaile was seen driving the town appealing to the members of the public to go back home.
READ: Kenya – London flights to continue despite confirmed Coronavirus cases in Kenya from London
“I am your OCS and I mind about your lives. Let us go home. If you want a good life, don’t wait for the virus to arrive. Save the lives of your family members,” Lekalille said.
In Nairobi some restaurants and liquor joints chose to shut down but many secretly served their clients behind closed doors.
Mutindwa, Toi, Muthurwa and Dagoretti markets have continued with their daily operations but the stalls are not as full as usual. Those who opened claimed they had no other option but to open.
“Staying at home means my children will have nothing to eat and the government will not provide food” a trader at Muthurwa market posed.
It remains a dance with the death across the country as the government is having itself in a dilemma on issuing guidelines but more threats.
President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed that the government will take the severest action against any individual who knowingly… puts the rest of the population at risk of COVID-19.
Enforcement on the ground is however lacking as police keep off the streets, despite the expectation by Kenyans that they will be around to enforce the stern warnings issued by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho on Sunday.
All police officers and National Youth Service (NYS) personnel have been put on standby to help the government deal with the crisis.
Inspector-General Hillary Mutyambai also ordered all officers back to their work stations as he cancelled all annual leaves except those pertaining to officers proceeding for their terminal leave.
