The Coast Regional Commissioner (RC), John Elungata on Tuesday directed Chiefs and other administration officers to strictly enforce Ministry of Health protocols on public gatherings.
Elungata warned that action would be taken against administration officials in whose areas of jurisdiction there was breach of guidelines issued by the government to combat spread of coronavirus.
The Administrator singled out Kilifi County where he said funerals were taking place in total disregard of the set guidelines.
“Police should take action against anybody violating health protocols on public gatherings and curfew hours regardless of social status or political affiliation,” he added.
The RC said security agencies would continue enforcing mandatory wearing of face masks while in public places to help reduce the spread of covid-19.
Elungata further said the government would intensify awareness campaigns on the need for people to adhere to the directives on hand washing, social distancing and wearing facemasks in support of efforts to stop the spread of the disease.
He said this at Peleleza in Likoni sub-county in Mombasa when he inspected the on-going National Hygiene Programme (NHP) dubbed ‘Kazi Mtaani’.
The RC distributed Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the youth recruited for the programme which included gumboots, gloves and face masks.
Mombasa County has enlisted 13, 861 youth for the second phase of the Kazi Mtaani that would see them earning Sh.455 daily.
The Coastal City has witnessed a sharp decline of insecurity incidences following the introduction of the Programme.
Area residents commended the government for the initiative that engages young people in community service saying many of them were idle and involving themselves in criminal activities.
Among the activities carried out were street cleaning, fumigation and disinfection, garbage collection, bush clearing and de-silting of choked gutters and unblocking of sewages among others.
Besides providing employment to the youth, the programme has also promoted health standards and protocols to limit the risk of the infection of the deadly covid-19 in slum areas.
Informal settlements targeted during the second phase, include Mathare, Kwarasi, Vietnam (Changamwe sub-county) and Majaoni, Hodi Hodi, Mwembelegeza and Kilimanjaro in Kisauni sub-county.
Others are Kidunguni, Mweza, Shikaadabu, Bububu and Vyemani in Likoni sub-county.
Elungata said Kazi Mtaani initiative would in the long run address the challenges of unemployment confronting the youth and added that apart from involving the youth in efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic the program was also keeping them away from criminal activities.
By Mohamed Hassan
