Kirinyaga residents will from this week start receiving free masks from the county government.
This follows the commencement of the mass mask production and distribution to the public as a way of protecting them from contracting coronavirus.
Kaitheri Wezesha Mama Apparel Factory situated in Kerugoya has been contracted to produce the masks by the County government.
The factory that has created employment for women in the textile industry is producing 1,000 masks daily.
Governor Anne Waiguru said that the masks are made in accordance with the laid down standards, which include using materials that have been certified by Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
“We have not yet registered any cases of coronavirus and we want to do all that we can to ensure that we do not have instances of the disease spreading in the county,” Waiguru said, adding that provision of masks is one of the interventions that the county is implementing in Covid-19 prevention.
Kaitheri Apparel center started operations in 2019 and has been producing school uniforms, hospital linen and apparels such as dustcoats, overall gowns and aprons for use by county workers.
Curtains and bed linen for the newly created Covid-19 isolation ward were also made at the linen factory.
The factory is one of the ‘WezeshaKirinyaga’ economic stimulus programs which are aimed at empowering women economically.
Governor Waiguru has reiterated the need by residents to adhere to all the laid down Covid-19 prevention measures which the two levels of government are implementing and enforcing.
Other interventions by the county government include the provision of an isolation ward with 14 beds for Coronavirus cases.
The county has also been fumigating public utilities.
By Irungu Mwangi
