Siaya County has received over 2000 litres of sanitisers from the national government, area County Commissioner Michael ole Tialal has said.
Tialal said that the consignment comprising 64 cartons carrying two dozens of 500 millilitre bottles each and 71 twenty-litre jerricans, were delivered today in his office and will be distributed to vulnerable groups and institutions.
Addressing the media in his office, the county commissioner hailed the national government initiative and appealed to all those who will benefit from the government donations to put the sanitisers into good use.
“I want to appeal to those who will benefit from the consignment, especially the 20 litre jericans not to sell the sanitisers but ensure that it is used properly so as to keep coronavirus at bay,” said the administrator.
The commissioner said that government officials will make a follow-up to ensure that those who are issued do not commercialise it, adding that those found making money out of the donation will be arrested.
He said that some of the groups that will be considered are bodaboda youth groups, small-scale traders in the markets, the prisons and other vulnerable individuals in the six sub counties.
“The consignment may not be enough for the one million population in Siaya but we shall strive to ensure that the vulnerable benefit,” he said and called on those who can afford sanitisers to continue buying.
Meanwhile, Tialal has called on Siaya residents to cooperate with security agencies during the period that the 7pm to 5am curfew will be in force, beginning this evening.
He said that the county security machinery was prepared to enforce the curfew that was imposed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as part of the efforts to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
The county commissioner said the public should not regard the curfew as an oppression from the government, saying that it was for the good of Kenyans.
“Nobody will be expected on the streets during the gazetted hours, apart from those handling essential services as stipulated,” he said adding that those who violate the curfew will meet the full force of the law.
By Philip Onyango