Indiscipline and lawlessness among a section of Kenyans is exposing public servants to increased risk of contracting Covid-19 disease, Nakuru County Commissioner Erastus Mbui Mwenda has said.
Mwenda noted civil servants comprised the largest part of front line officers in the war against Covid-19 having been deployed as doctors, law enforcement officers and social workers to offer various services to Kenyans.
“Indiscipline is really costing us. It’s unfathomable that most Kenyans are not adhering to government measures aimed at curbing further spread of the disease.
Civil servants are at a greater risk as they have to offer services to people who refuse to keep distance, wear masks, stay at home, wash hands and even want to move around contrary to cessation of movement directives” observed the administrator.
He was speaking at the Kenya Industrial Training Institute where departmental heads planted trees to mark the African Public Service day whose highlight will be on Friday this week at Meteorological Department grounds in Nakuru.
Mbui singled out security personnel and public administrators deployed to enforce the laws and regulations put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic in different capacities including border patrols, movement control, and enforcement of curfew as workers facing the greatest challenge.
He noted that a recent spate of violence witnessed on the Narok and Nakuru border and bloodletting skirmishes reported in Kivumbini and flamingo estates after rival criminal gangs clashed was reversing the gains made in slowing the spread of Covid 19.
“When people’s lives are threatened by such incidents they are unlikely to observe social distancing because naturally they will seek safety in numbers by crowding in one place. Whenever we intervene through public barazas huge crowds will inevitably turn up for the meetings.
On the flipside it is public servants such as doctors, police officers and emergency workers who respond to such unnecessary occurrences, exposing them to new risks of Covid-19 infection” stated Mwenda.
The County Commissioner said public service delivery had not been disrupted in Nakuru following a directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta to Kenyans to work from home.
He said working from home had made public servants more committed, dedicated and patient in discharging their official duties.
While calling on Kenyans to follow the guidelines issued by the government to tame the pandemic, Mwenda said most public servants had now been equipped with sufficient knowledge on handling Covid-19.
He said the law enforcement officers had been trained on simple measures such as disinfecting their belts, uniforms and boots whenever they come into contact with any individual in the course of their duty.
The officers have also been trained on how to disinfect patrol cars after each transport using disinfectants and effective ways of fumigating cells and offices within police stations.
“We are continually updating our public servants with new research findings about Covid 19. In our training module we are encouraging them to limit their exposure to persons who may be ill by always wearing personal protective equipment while responding to a situation that requires close contact” said the County Commissioner.
The administrator cautioned public servants to be wary of hygienic standards of eateries as some could be potential hot spots for spreading Covid-19 disease.
Mwenda said civil servants should serve as an example to be emulated by Kenyans by not engaging in behaviours that may accelerate spread of the disease.
By Anne Mwale/Elmad Ogara
County Commissioner: Kenyans’ indiscipline exposing public servants to Covid-19
