Health experts have called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to reject calls to order a total lockdown as a measure to contain COVID-19.
Over the last few weeks, the president has been put under pressure to impose a total lockdown due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in the country.
President Uhuru has called a meeting with governors on Monday to assess the impact of the recently eased measures.
Sources say lockdown option is on the table for the president, an idea that the experts oppose.
Dr. Mark Nanyingi an epidemiologist says the lockdown would only make sense if the healthcare capacity is fixed and the frontline health workers are trained.
“Even if you locked down now, psychologically it brings safety as it will scale down infection but the overall success will not be achieved.
“the transmission of the virus happens indoors, not no the road. It happens where someone sits most of the time,” he said.
Nanyingi cited a study done in the US that showed that 70 percent of the transmission does occur indoors.
Speaking to the Star, he further called for more effort to improve the contract tracking system, noting that there has been a lapse in it.
Nanyingi added that the country also needs a system to shield people with underlying conditions or prioritize their needs.
“I was for it [lockdown] but the disease has evolved, and we haven’t put in place measures we thought would help us stump out the disease,” Nanyingi said.
Prof. Mohamud Sheik aka Omar ( Wajir South Mp), an infectious disease expert said the lockdown is longer tenable and should not be repeated.
According to Omar, 2019 seasonal influenza flu affected more people than the current coronavirus pandemic.
“In science, we believe in ‘herd’ immunity and that natural immunity is what our population needs. In simple layman’s term ‘protect me, so I protect you’,” he said.
“Epidemiology dictates that ‘we are our brother’s keeper’ in terms of protecting each other from infectious diseases,” the MP added.
He, however, pushed for a reasonable solution and asked those advising the President to be realistic.
According to him, those surrounding the President are not doing a good job. He further called on the expertise to be engaged to help the President tackle this pandemic and any future similar challenges.
Gitahi said lockdown would have only made sense if it was for a particular purpose of preparedness.
“I don’t think it is needed unless we have an assessment where we establish gaps that need to be filled,” Gitahi tweeted.
The county chiefs have equally changed their quest for tougher measures especially on enforcement of MoH protocols.
Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya told the Star this will be on the agenda of their Monday meeting with the President.
According to the Kakamega governor, Nairobi should not be a lockdown since it is the hub of Kenya’s economy and that international flights commence as planned.
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Governor Oparanya said they will push for increased testing centers by the government instead of a lockdown.
“If we can enhance testing, it will help us know what to do to contain the spread. We will also emphasize the need to enforce the protocols. Enforcement is very critical to help contain this disease.”
Governors Alfred Mutua (Machakos), Lee Kinyanjui (Nakuru), and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri) have been pushing for tougher measures by the government.
According to Dr. Omar President focus on protecting the livelihoods of his citizens and saving the economy.
