The Maa pastoralist community living at the Narok- Tanzania border have been asked to continue adhering to regulations set by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19 so as to keep the disease at bay in the area.
Speaking during a public baraza held at Ilkerin area in Loita ward, Narok Governor Samuel Tunai reminded the residents that the disease was real and could spread easily in their midst if they did not take precautions.
“Covid-19 is real. We have seen both the mighty and the poor in the society dying of the disease. I beg you not to relent in the fight against the novel virus until the department of Health declares the country free from the disease,” said Tunai.
Tunai lamented that the virus had severely affected the tourism sector observing that the county mainly depend on tourism for its economic growth.
He observed that the world famous Maasai Mara Game reserve suffered a great blow last year because of Covid-19 adding that they were optimistic that this year, the trend would change after the discovery of a vaccine.
“I do not want us to take anything to chance. We want to follow the rules set because we are law abiding citizens. If we only do this, we will keep the diseases away,” Tunai told the pastoralists community.
The county boss said the county had already established a 300-bed capacity hospital at Ololulunga area in Narok South Sub County to cater for a possibility of the virus outbreak in the county.
Because of the disease, the governor lamented that hundreds of girls had fallen pregnant during the season the schools were closed.
He however, called on parents to take their girls back to school despite the condition as the government was offering free primary education and subsidized secondary education.
“It is a fact that many girls in this county fell pregnant when schools were closed for nine months because of Covid-19. But I urge parents to give their girls another chance by taking them back to school,” said Tunai.
He urged parents to ensure their children going to school had their facemasks well put and that they are taught to wash their hands regularly as directed by the department of health.
Narok County has about 480 people who have tested positive of the disease to date and 17 persons reported to have died from the disease.
by Ann Salaton
