• Lamu Governor Fahim Twaha said he is in talks with stakeholders in the transport sector to suspend all transport into and out of the island.
• Kenya reported the first case of coronavirus on March 13, but there has been none in Lamu.
You may soon be unable to enter or leave Lamu as the county authorities roll out more measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Governor Fahim Twaha is consulting transport sector stakeholders for them to suspend transport into and out of the island.
The region hasn’t reported any case of coronavirus. The first positive case in the country was reported on March 13.
Kenya had by Sunday recorded 142 Covid-19 infections and four deaths.
The governor said he might have to ban people from counties where there are positive cases.
He spoke at the county headquarters in Mokowe town on Monday.
Twaha said the county is liaising with the Ministry of Health for a standardised prevention approach and necessary mitigation measures.
“We must understand that our strategic position and entry points create exposure risks to the public.
“Kilifi, our neighbour, is unfortunately among the country’s five hotspots of the coronavirus. Travel between Lamu and Kilifi has been happening but we plan to limit these to ensure the bug stays out of Lamu,” Twaha said.
He called for concerted efforts and collaboration from all parties to effectively execute the measures against coronavirus.
“It's my hope that our esteemed assembly shall support and approve these for the good of Lamu,” the governor said.
He urged residents to observe all preventive measures as directed by the government and stay at home.
“Obey the curfew, keep the social distance and sanitise as much as possible. But most of all, stay at home and reduce unnecessary travel,” he counselled.
The county chief said global trends showed that Lamu could lose up to 1,500 people if the disease hit the county. "We should be worried because studies show that the pandemic is responsible for 1 per cent of deaths around the globe.”
Lamu has fewer than 150,000 people.
(edited by o. owino)