A 27-year-old man has embarked on riding a bicycle for 1,200 kilometres from Moyale to Busia to sensitise Kenyans about the Covid-19 disease.
Mr Fredrick Ochieng, a casual labourer in Marsabit town, said he wants to educate wananchi who are yet to accept the gravity of the pandemic that the disease is real and rally them to understand it is their business to fight the coronavirus before it destroys them.
The father of two said the educational campaign would take him 36 days to reach the border County of Busia after traversing Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia, Nyeri, Muranga, Kiambu through Nairobi , Nakuru, Kericho, Kisumu and Siaya.
Ochieng, an ambassador of Covid-19 who ekes a living as an odd-jobs man in the building construction sector in Marsabit town, urged wananchi to stick to the government directives of washing hands using running water and soap to reduce the spiraling infection rates.
He commended a non-governmental organisation – PACIDA operating in Marsabit County for providing sanitisers, soap and water to wash hands and spearheading the awareness campaign in the Upper Eastern region.
Ochieng made a stopover in Isiolo on Wednesday where he paid a courtesy call on County Commissioner Harman Shambi after setting off from Moyale.
Mr Shambi reminded Isiolo residents to always follow the health guidelines to stop further spread of the disease that has infected over 28,000 Kenyans and caused the deaths of 450 people across the country.
The County Commissioner said basic practices like hand washing with soap, wearing of face masks and keeping safe distances from one another will work wonders for those at homes and in public places.
“If only all Kenyans can follow the laid down primary health practices, the life threatening pandemic can be kept at bay and let us all preach the gospel to our people so that we can survive the killer virus wrath,” said Mr Shambi.
He urged the local people to avoid diverting their attention from the disease’s threat by falsely accusing the government of not providing masks, sanitisers and soap to all since they also have the responsibility to take care of their own lives.
“The government and other well-wishers have distributed a lot of equipment and necessary materials to help fight the virus but not every Kenyan will get them and therefore they should mind their own health too,” he added.
Shambi also appealed to religious leaders, politicians and civil societies to educate residents about the measures against the deadly viral disease.
By Abduba Mamo/David Nduro
