12 counties from the Nyanza and Western regions are staring at a looming lockdown following the surge in Covid-19 cases in the recent weeks.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i on Wednesday, June 17, hinted at a possible lockdown in those counties, stating that the government is contemplating imposing strict containment measures in the said regions.
Yesterday, Governors from the regions called upon the government to lockdown the counties.
The CS addressed regional and county commissioners at the Kenya School of Government revealing that the National Emergency Response Committee (NERC) has held several meetings and will consult with President Uhuru Kenyatta on the best possible guidelines that will be issued to the counties.
"It is becoming absolutely necessary that we enhance the containment measures in Nyanza and partly Western Kenya counties.
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"This may lead to us introducing new measures to deal with movement and some social activities all of which are intended to manage the surge of Covid-19 cases," Matiang'i stated.
The affected counties include Kisumu, Siaya, Migori, Homa Bay, Kisii, Nyamira, Busia, Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Nandi, and Kericho.
Health experts have since warned that the epicentre of the pandemic in Kenya has since shifted from Nairobi to the Lake Basin, North Rift and Upper Eastern regions.
"The partial lockdown may be just one of the possible measures to be undertaken, but it is not the ultimate solution. There is a great need for a drastic shift in the people's ways of daily life. There are certain things that the people must desist from doing to contain the situation," Professor Khama Rogo, chairman of the Lake Region Economic Bloc stated.
He warned that the said counties will continue to record a high number of Covid-19 cases unless members of the public adhere to the set guidelines.
The warning by Matiang'i comes days after governors: Anyang' Nyong'o (Kisumu), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), and Sospeter Ojaamong' (Busia) called for a partial lockdown of the counties.
