Restrict Kenya-Tanzania border movement to curb Covid-19, State told

Kericho Senator Samson Cherargei has urged the government to restrict the free movement between Kenya and Tanzania to contain the Covid-19 third wave in the country.

Speaking during a local TV Show on Thursday, Cherargei said the ongoing high numbers of infections being recorded in the country could be because of free movement between the two countries.

“The third wave in the country could be because of that free movement between Kenya and Tanzania,” he said.

The lawmaker said the ongoing lockdown in the five counties (Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nakuru) will only achieve its purpose if the border movement is restricted.

“It makes little sense to put five counties in lockdown when our border with Tanzania has not been locked, the government must do something.”

He said Tanzania does not use scientific methods to control the Covid-19 pandemic hence the need for the government to take such measures.

Tanzania’s new President Samia Suluhu in early March announced plans to set up a national Covid-19 task force to inform a new state response to the pandemic.

Using national-level data and guidance from world health authorities, the task force will advise the government on public health measures and how to communicate them to the public.

The move marks an about-turn in the country’s approach to Covid-19, is the first time Suluhu’s new administration has spoken publicly about new measures on the pandemic since she was sworn in as Tanzanian President on March 19, 2021, following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli.

Magufuli’s administration did not implement practical measures to protect the public from the pandemic.

In April 2020, Tanzania stopped publishing information on Covid-19 infection rates and related deaths.

Ban on flights

On the new ban on Indian flights, Cherargei hailed the government for banning the flights saying it is a step in the right direction.

“The new ban is timely and it should be like that going forward so that we don’t go back to March last year,” he said.

Kenya is among some countries that have stop flights from India following the surge in infections and deaths.

The government suspended flights to and from India for 14 days following a spike in Covid-19 infections in the country.

The passengers are required to get tested and if they turn out positive for Covid-19 go on quarantine for two weeks on arrival in the Country.

On Wednesday, India recorded 360,960 fresh cases for the world’s largest single-day total, taking its tally of infections to nearly 18 million. It was also the deadliest day so far, with 3,293 fatalities carrying the toll to 201,187.

Experts believe the official tally vastly underestimates the actual toll in a nation of 1.35 billion, however.

Kenya recorded 834 new Covid-19 cases, from a sample size of 8,498 tested and 23 deaths on Wednesday.