The county government’s food relief programme targets 20,000 households before the end of June 30
By Faith Nashipae
Governor Joseph ole Lenku has assured Kajiado residents of safety measures undertaken in curbing the spread of Covid-19 pandemic and called for observance of the guidelines set by the Ministry of Health.
In his virtual Madaraka Day speech on Monday, the Governor highlighted key measures that have been put in place in tackling the spread of Coronavirus in Kajiado County; which includes training of more than 700 Health Care Workers on the management of Covid-19 and sensitization of more than 1200 staff in the Health facilities and community volunteers.
He noted that Kajiado County Government has provided adequate personal protection equipment to all front-line Health Care workers as part of the mitigation measures in tackling coronavirus.
Lenku opined that the County has established 60 bed capacity isolation and treatment units in five health facilities and identified and operationalise quarantine centers with 500 beds with potential of increasing if need arises.
“We have established a strong working relationship with the National Government that has boosted contact tracing, sample collection and testing and the setting up of a mobile testing unit at the Namanga border,” said Lenku.
The County Boss said already 100,000 face masks that were manufactured in Kajiado Vocational Training Centers have been distributed to various groups operating businesses including bodaboda and matatu operators.
He emphasized the need to stimulate food security during this season of Covid-19 pandemic, that the County recently launched and has implemented Digital Relief Food distribution programme known as ‘M-Riziki’ which targets affected residents who are given a PIN to collect food hampers in their local shops in order to reduce overcrowding.
“The food relief programme targets 20,000 households before the end of June 30, 2020,” reiterated Lenku.
Governor Lenku said the County has so far recorded 50 cases of Covid-19 despite the index case in Kenya originated from Kajiado. “The majority of those who have turned positive are truck drivers and staff at the Namanga border,” he said.
He asked residents not to relent in keeping social distance, wash hands regularly, sanitize, wear masks and above all enhance the African spirit of being there for one another as and when there is need to help in order to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
Kenyans celebrated 57th Madaraka Day through a first-ever virtual event that was led by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the State House Nairobi in the company of a few invited guests.
Madaraka Day is a national holiday celebrated every June 1, in Kenya. It commemorates the day in 1963 that Kenya attained independent self-governance after decades as a British Colony.
This year’s Madaraka Day celebrations had been slated for Kisii Stadium in Kisii County, but restrictions issued by the government on public gatherings following the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the day would be marked in a different manner.
