Coronavirus: Kenya Set To Launch Contact-Tracing App

The Government of Kenya has announced that it is planning to launch a new app that will help in tracing the people that coronavirus patients have come into contact with.

The new app, branded mSafari, will be used by people in the Public Service Vehicle and passengers where they will be required to provide critical information on a Coronavirus patient.

Owners and Operators of all the PSVs in the country will have to register to the mSafari platform using their vehicle registration numbers.

All passengers using the Matatus, Motorbikes, and taxis will thus be required to give their contact details to the operators and the information will register automatically on the mSafari App.

This will help the government to trace the paths a confirmed coronavirus patient has followed in efforts to tame the spread of the virus in the country.

The user code provided for the service is *483*42# which will be free across all networks.

The app developers say the app will be effective in the fight against the covid-19 fight since 53 percent of Kenyans use public transport on a daily basis.

According to the developers, the mSafari app will also signal if the required passenger capacity is exceeded in any matatu.

As the Ministry of Health announced on Friday, March 20, 2020, PSVs should only carry at most 60 percent of their usual capacity to encourage social distancing: one of the most effective ways to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

All 14-seater matatus were directed to carry eight passengers per trip while 25 seater matatus were instructed to carry 15 passengers per trip.

The Directive given by CS Kagwe will also affect the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) trains which will carry 60 percent of their usual capacity.

The Government will unveil the app today 23^rd March 2020. The app is a joint program between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of transport.