Do not take advantage of Covid-19 to promote graft

The recent curfew announcement has made life difficult for many people who are used to being outside in the evening.

The most significant challenge is those facing medical emergencies during the night and early morning hours. These emergencies still need to be treated at hospitals even during odd hours.

The Ministry of Health’s recent announcement that all elective surgeries will be postponed until after the corona crisis is over is a welcome measure.

People should make their best efforts to stay at home unless medical care is urgently needed. But when such events occur, they need to make their way to hospital and receive medical care.

Police officers should not be getting in the way of that. While as Kenyans it is our duty to respect police officers who work tirelessly to protect us. 

There is widespread corruption, especially among traffic police officers.

Every adult in our country has been asked not to pay a bribe to the police. The police cannot use this crisis as a way to fill their pockets. In order to be a responsible citizen, all Kenyans should observe the dusk to dawn curfew.

But if there is a medical emergency, then people should not be terrified to make their way to the hospital to get the care that they need.

Stories have been shared on social media of women in rural areas going into labour and the only form of transport available to them, a boda-boda.

Then on the way home from the hospital, after dropping off the patient, the boda-boda rider is harassed by police officers.

It is outrageous that some police officers are still demanding bribes during this period. It is outrageous at any time, but even more so now. The government is trying to make Kenya safer.

While medical professionals are working round the clock to treat patients and mitigate any further spread of Covid-19, the last thing they need on their hands is a critically injured patient who has been attacked by the police for refusing to pay a bribe.

Corruption has also been rife in our hospitals. Sometimes it takes a connection or extra cash to see a doctor.

As a concerned citizen, it is my hope that hospitals are keeping these things in check and delivering the best medical care in the circumstances.

Bribery and corruption is damaging even to wealthy countries like the United States. Its impacts are felt even in Kenya. The government has embarked on an anti-corruption campaign.

Now, all instances of corruption should be magnified. It is our responsibility to report the corrupt. What we are experiencing right now is more challenging even than all out warfare.

We are extraordinarily resilient and we have dealt with widespread infectious diseases before. This is not our first time overcoming difficulties as a community, and it will not be our last. Let us use this period as an opportunity to reject corruption, and we will emerge much stronger.