Uhuru defers meeting with Governors on Covid-19 situation

By Samuel Ouma

The anticipated meeting between President Uhuru Kenyatta and the council of Governors has been pushed from July 24 to July 27, announced the State House.

In a statement released on Wednesday, State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena said the postponement was requested by the council of Governors.

"His Excellency the President has acceded to the request by the Council of Governors to reschedule the 5th Extra-Ordinary Session of the National and County Governments Co-ordinating Summit," read the statement.

The main objective of the summit was to examine Covid-19 containment measures.

During the session the leaders will discuss the level of preparedness across the 47 Counties in curbing the spread of the novel virus, assess the efficacy of containment measures in place and review the phased easing of the Covid-19 restrictions.

 Kenya has reported a surge in the number of cases between May and July where 44 out of 47 Counties have reported positive cases. The Counties which are yet to register cases of the disease are Baringo, West Pokot and Samburu.

On July 6, President Kenyatta lifted the partial lockdown in the Counties of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera and ordered for phased re-opening of places of worship, hotels and bars. However, the Head of the State warned of the possibility of regressing to lockdown should be virus pose more threats.

“In the next 21 days we shall study patterns of interaction and spread of the disease. Any trends that signal a worsening of the pandemic, we shall have no choice but to return to lock down at zero option,” said President Kenyatta.

The Council of Governors Chairperson Governor Wycliffe Oparanya had earlier announced that counties have a total of 271 isolation facilities and 12,034 beds though the government requires each county to have 300 beds.

Intensive Care Unit beds are 447 and 437 ventilators according to the Kakamega Governor.