Garissa deputy governor Abdi Dagane has cautioned local traders against hiking the prices of foodstuffs following restrictions of movement to limit the spread of Covid-19
Speaking at Garissa main prison Saturday where he delivered handwashing detergents and wash buckets donated by the Kenya Progressive Nurses Association, Garissa branch, Dagane said that movement of foodstuffs across the country was not restricted in the directives issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The deputy governor said it was morally wrong for the traders to take advantage of the restrictions to unnecessarily hike food prices given that many Kenyans were going through hard times due to the new restrictions to curb the spread of the Covid-19.
“We are undergoing a difficult moment as a country that calls for goodwill, support and donations from all of us. Let us refrain from actions that will make the situation for our fellow Kenyans even worse,’’ he said.
The deputy governor appealed to more well-wishers to join hands and donate food and other items to Kenyans and institutions rated as vulnerable during the restriction period.
He said the Garissa correction service center remained among the facilities that required support due to the high number of inmates.
Dagane said the County administration in conjunction with other partners were involved in various sanitization programs as they stepped up measures to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
He thanked members of the public for cooperating with the County Covid-19 response team by reporting suspected cases.
Health CEC Ahmednadir Omar said the county response team has up scaled their surveillance to ensure any suspected cases were immediately dealt with adding that to date, none of the suspected cases have tested positive for the virus.
Omar called on area residents to ignore messages circulating in the social media out to create fear, adding that they should rely only on government issued guidelines and information.
The Kenya prisons North Eastern regional commander Gacheru Kamore thanked the County Government and the Kenya progressive Nurses Association for the donations saying they would go a long way in improving hygiene conditions in the prisons.
Present were Kenya Red Cross branch Coordinator Mohamed Dubow, Garissa town sub county medical officer Dr. Mohamed Ahmed, officer commanding Garissa main prison camp Abdiweli Hassan, women inmates in charge Mwana Hamisi Kamora and officials from the Kenya progressive Nurses Association.
By Jacob Songok
