Kenya, country in East Africa famed for its scenic landscapes and vast wildlife preserves. The area of Kenya is 580,000 km2 with the population of 52 million. The capital is Nairobi. The country’s diverse wildlife and panoramic geography draw large numbers of visitors, and tourism is an important contributor to Kenya’s economy. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) is the ANSO Governing Board Member, and Sino-Africa Joint Research Center (SAJOREC) is also hosted by JKUAT. 

 

In Kenya, as per 12th April 2020 government’s report, we have 197 confirmed positive cases, 8 death and 25 recoveries.

So far, Covid-19 is not yet an outbreak since the spread is not rapid relative to other affected countries globally. The number of positive cases reported is less than 200 where Nairobi is regarded as the epicenter of the disease. 

 

The pandemic has called for changes in the health care system, improvements in the economy to make it robust and not dependent on imports (there is effort to support local manufacturing of goods), awareness of the important role that good governance, government is now looking for solutions in kenya which if supported can result in growth of local economy. Effect of the pandemic on local culture is now emerging and will be seen as efforts to control the virus continue to be implemented. 

 

●  Policy responses by the Kenya Government include:

    o  Gazetting COVID-19 related regulations which include hefty penalties for persons caught flouting directives issued in line with the Public Health Act. 

    o  Establishment of the National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus

    o  Provision of tax relief to various categories of employees and directing the Kenya Revenue Authority to refund moneys owed to businesses

    o  Restriction of travel from or to COVID 19 ‘hotspots’ such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale. 

    o  Daily updates on COVID 19 situation by the CS health 

    o  Establishment of quarantine centers and tracking of anyone who is suspected of being in contact with COVID 19 affected person or with history of travel to affected countries

●  The government is working hard to contain further spread of the virus by implementing measures such as public awareness and sensitization. The government is continuously encouraging its citizens to help minimize the spread by;

    o  Regular washing of hands with soap for 20 seconds or use alcohol-based sanitizer,

    o  Closure of public spaces including malls, hotels, bars and restaurants and places of worship,

    o  Maintaining of social distance at all time,

    o  Use of cashless transaction,

    o  Wearing face mask when in public places,

    o  Suspension of all international passenger flights,

    o  Shutting of Kenyan border, restriction of travel between counties, etc.

●   Further measures include fumigation of public places e.g., markets, bus stops, parks, public transport vehicles among others. In addition, the government closed all learning institutions upon reporting of the first case in Kenya. 

●   Moreover, a national daily dusk-to-dawn curfew was imposed on the 27th of March 2020 to help mitigate the spread of the virus. In most affected counties such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale, the government has         restricted entry or exit of people since the 6th of April 2020 for 21 days. 

●   Other measures have been taken by respective County governments to complement the National government’s efforts to manage the spread of Covid-19. 

 

●  Provision of clear information on the virus and enforcement of preventive measures is important 

●  Ensuring access to adequate food at affordable prices is also important

●  In order to entirely overcome Covid-19 pandemic, global, regional and local cooperation is inevitable. There is need for nations to support one another during this crisis.

●  Since the spread-curve of Covid-19 is variable across the globe, it is therefore essential for the government to leverage on already available data on how the virus is spreading and deliberates on more stringent counter-active measures. 

●  Contagious diseases like Covid-19 can rapidly turn into an epidemic if not well contained. This requires a robust healthcare system in place. The government of Kenya should invest more in sustainable healthcare systems and effective surveillance mechanisms to tackle infectious diseases. 

It is crucial for the government to work closely with experts and other stakeholders in order to make precise and well informed decisions on how to curb the spread.

Coordinated actions involving a combination of effective testing, proactive contact tracing, and an effective communication system for collection and dissemination of information on the movement of potential targets are critical in curtailing the pandemic.

●  The need for people to change their lifestyle such as handshake, frequent hand washing, social gathering, etc. in order to slow the spread cannot be underestimated. 

 

●  Healthcare: There is a growing concern among the citizens whether Kenyan healthcare system is able to withstand the pressure in the event of community transmission. Also, there is great concern whether healthcare providers and other essential workers are well protected and equipped to manage Covid-19 notwithstanding the weak healthcare systems in the country. 

●  Education: Currently, all schools (primary to tertiary, public and private) are closed indefinitely. This has attracted online education which is still in its infancy and faces myriad of challenges in Kenya. Most parents are worried because they are unable to support their children to subscribe to these e-learning platforms due to lack of the necessary gadgets and funds to facilitate this. This pandemic is also perceived to disorient the academic calendar across board thus may have serious implications on the syllabus coverage.

●  Economy: There is fear and anxiety on the aftermath of Covid-19 worldwide. Before the pandemic, Kenyans have been struggling with tough economic times. These tough times have just been exacerbated by the pandemic further threatening the limping economy. Businesses have either slowed down or stalled altogether rendering many jobless. 

●  Income: Due to Covid-19, many employees have either been laid off, received slashed salaries or given unpaid leaves which have serious implications on their livelihood. Consider Kenya’s informal economy employs most Kenyans and is now facing an unprecedented impact.

●  Food supply: Restriction of movement as directed by the government does not affect production and supply chains. However, there are concerns about whether the supply will meet the demand and how this may affect prices in the market. 

●  Social Distancing: This means a change in the way Kenyans behave mainly in public spaces. Immediate impacts can be seen in the transport sector with public vehicles increasing fare due to reduced number of passengers. All entertainment spots have been closed. There is closure of places of worship and enforcement of COVID 19 preventative measures.

 

Various experts have recommended;

●  Rigorous action to contain the virus: the government is actively testing individuals, and quarantining confirmed and potential cases whilst pursuing possible contacts. The government has also invested heavily in public education via different channels on best practices like encouraging good hygiene, social distancing and encouraging job protection by employers for their employees, dissuading public gatherings in religious and social settings among others. 

●  Treating of identified cases: all individuals who contract the virus are given immediate medical attention in designated hospitals.

●  Cushioning of the economy: the government is working hard to protect the economy from the consequences of the pandemic by reviewing its budgetary allocation and also soliciting for financial aid from other stakeholders. Both government and private organizations and corporate have donated funds towards this course. 

●  Enforcement of social distancing 

 

 

●  Collaboration between local and international experts to undertake research on the disease to ensure local prevention measures are found. There is need to support in country researchers to undertake research on this pandemic. 

●  Establishment of laboratories and human capacity to undertake tests. At present, only the Kenya Medical Research Institute has the capacity and would be sorely tested should the number of infected by the disease increase. 

●  Mass testing capacity remains a major challenge for Kenya. Also the capacity to handle critical cases such as ICU patients is low in most of the counties. Kenya needs adequate testing facilities and more trained medical personnel.

●  Barely half of the population is well informed about the pandemic; still there is need for better communication to Kenyans living in rural communities to be educated on the disease.

 

Acknowledgement: This report is submitted by Professor Gituru Robert Wahiti, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya.