Looming COVID-19 restrictions in Kisumu, parts of Western Kenya over rise in infections

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 16- The Government is mulling introducing restrictions in some part of Western Kenya and Nyanza region, over increased cases of COVID-19 disease.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i says the move is meant to tame the spread of the disease.

Notably, tens of cases of the Indian variant have been recorded in Kisumu County, with a spike of infections said to have risen after the June 1, Madaraka Day celebrations.

Health experts had earlier warned that the epicenter of the disease had moved from Nairobi to the Lake Basin Region, North Rift and Upper Eastern.

“Managing the containment measures of COVID-19 has been a tough task, and we all must accept that it is one of those that has challenged us greatly, but I thank you yet again because of the resilience that your leadership (Ministry of Health) has brought to this campaign,” said Matiang’i.

The country’s caseload is more than 176,000 since the first incident was reported in March, 2020.

Of those, 3,428 have succumbed to the disease.

So far, a total of 1,113,158 people had been vaccinated by among them 986,881 who have received their while 126,277 have received their second dose.

“We have been fairly battered but we have not been defeated, the country is resilient and is still strong and we are moving forward…..And even as we challenge the surge in the western part of the country, I know we are up to the task with the national emergency response committee and we meet regularly and by the end of today we will have a decision and we will consult amongst ourselves and a decision will be made on how to enhance containment measures in Nyanza counties and Western counties and may lead us to introducing new measures to deal with movement and some social activities all intended to ensure we manage the spread of COVID-19, ” added Matiang’i.

Kenya is sourcing vaccines from Johnson and Johnson as well as Pfizer to undertake more vaccinations after challenges in acquiring the AstraZeneca from India that has experienced high infections and deaths.

According to the Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, the government aims to vaccinate at least 30 million people, mainly adults once the vaccines are acquired.

In the financial year 2021-22, the government has set aside Sh14.3 billion for the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The President had in March issued a lockdown in four Counties declared as disease infected zones, to curb the disease.

They are Nairobi, Nakuru, Kajiado and Machakos Counties.