Politicians shouldn’t exploit unfortunate times

Ever since we started hearing global news report about coronavirus, Kenyans far and wide have been scrambling to protect ourselves against catching it.

One of the most popular and only proven methods so far is practicing good hygiene, which includes frequently washing hands, cleaning metal and plastic surfaces, avoiding physical contact, and applying hand sanitiser when hand washing is not possible. 

Now, basic objects like hand sanitisers and protective face masks have become hot commodities. Manufacturers, stores, and even individuals who have stocked up around the country are using this as a way to cash in on the crisis, by charging more than the products are valued at during normal times. This is a predictable response to supply and demand economics, and is not surprising.

But what is truly surprising is that Kenyan politicians have been employing the same exploitative practices to gain votes and support people they serve during times of crisis. In recent weeks, several county governors, MPs, senators and MCAs have initiated programmes to distribute branded hand sanitiser, soap, and other hygiene products to residents of the areas they serve. 

Some politicians have delivered water tanks to strategic locations such as matatu and boda boda shades with their names and images branded on them. The rapid and dangerous spread of Covid-19 is not an opportunity to score political points and get votes. But let us move beyond the fact that they are exploiting the situation to get brand recognition.

What is even worse is that the Health Ministry has warned that the quality of some of these products is not on par with the highest standards. Some of the soaps and hand sanitisers that politicians are distributing are of questionable authenticity and may not fight off bacteria at the same level as standard supermarket soap brands we are used to buying.

Where these products are manufactured and who is regulating them remains to be seen. The Kenya Bureau of Standards has taken the step of warning against the proliferation of fake hygiene products that do not do what they purport to do. In order to combat the proliferation of faulty or useless products, the government has collaborated with the private sector to distribute approximately 130,000 litres of free hand sanitiser.

This is part of a greater scheme of public-private partnerships that Uhuru has initiated to maintain stability during these challenging times. It builds on his years of building public-private partnerships across many sectors, including tourism, sports, education and science to benefit the Kenyan people.

Most recently, the Kenya Pipeline Corporation has worked with oil marketing and other companies to distribute sanitiser and benefit the most vulnerable people in Kenya. Each sanitiser bottle in this programme is delivered in 500 millilitre bottles to households and 20 litre containers for larger institutions where Kenyans frequent, such as health centres, stores, police stations and markets.

Uhuru has also instructed the Health Ministry to hire 1,000 medical professionals within one week in order to handle rising coronavirus cases. Hired medical officers will include not only doctors and nurses, but also lab technologists and clinical officers. 

Before the pandemic, Kenya had around 400 intensive care unit beds, and Health CS Mutahi Kagwe told reporters that the government is aiming to increase that number to 1,000 as soon as possible.

These kinds of creative and fast solutions are the only way we will overcome coronavirus and even learn from the experience. We need to trust in the president and the Health Ministry now more than ever, follow their guidelines and let them do their work.

In the meantime, politicians who are taking advantage of the situation should be shunned and we must be weary of the products that they are distributing. Though they purport to be distributing products to help the neediest, their efforts may be counterproductive. During any pandemic period, and especially now, unity and discipline is essential. 

 We are fortunate that Kenya was in a stable state of relative peace before the pandemic broke out, since that will help later national efforts to get rid of corona once and for all. Do not let your judgement be clouded by some leaders that want to use the situation to benefit themselves.