Kenya: Services Likely to Remain In Case of Lockdown over Coronavirus

Will Kenya follow the footsteps of other countries that have resorted to locking down major cities and services in order to avert the spread of the deadly coronavirus?

If the answer is yes, what are some of the services likely to survive the lockdown in case the Government is planning to execute the idea?

In a meeting held on Thursday, March 19, 2020 at the State House, the Government officials decided on nine services that might not be affected in case there is a complete lockdown of the country.

Agencies that offer water services, health, security, air traffic control and civil aviation, fire services, ports, financial and transport sectors will survive the governments’ axe for now but if the epidemic persists, the government will have no option to cut more of them.

The Meeting held by the Cabinet Secretaries and led by the President confirmed that essential services will not be affected, while at the same time deferred any decision to impose a total lockdown on Nairobi or any part of Kenya.

State officials serving in the Executive, National Assembly and Judiciary have been directed to man essential public services during this period until coronavirus is completely contained.

In a confidential circular by the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua to all the state departments, “Each government agency is required to determine the range of services critical and essential in the discharge of its core mandates, and prepare a schedule for coverage of such services.”

During the meeting, the government directed all the Chiefs and Nyumba Kumi officials to ensure that there are no public gatherings in any part of the country.

“To this end, the government is further directing the involvement of Nyumba Kumi leaders, chiefs and sub-chiefs in ensuring compliance to these directives,” directed health CS Mutahi Kagwe.

So far, the confirmed Coronavirus cases stand at seven with the Government assuring that the patients isolated at KNH are being monitored and are in good condition.

“All the seven are doing well under the observation of the Ministry of Health and KNH staff,” the health CS assured.

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