Malindi police warn residents against flouting Covid rules

Police officers in Malindi have asked residents to stop misconceptions about the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce the spread of the virus.

Malindi subcounty deputy police commander Simon Muli said containment rules were set to keep Kenyans safe.

Speaking at the Malindi police station after leading security personnel and stakeholders in the monthly clean-up organised by the Progressive Welfare Association of Malindi, Muli said Covid-19 is real and residents must observe the rules.

“There has been a misconception on the side of the public who only follow the measures when they see police officers or do it just to evade arrest. This is a wrong perception because the measures are meant to protect the public and police are only enforcement agents,” he said.

Muli said Covid-19 is ravaging the whole world and Kenya has not been spared.

So far, he said the pandemic has affected the economy of the nation and must be taken with the seriousness it deserves.

“The only weapon we can use to ensure we fight this virus is observing the basic Ministry of Health protocols, that is washing hands as frequently as possible, using facemasks, as well as observing all other measures that are put in place by the national government, including social distancing,” he said.

Muli was accompanied by stakeholders, including the Kenya Red Cross Society and PWAM chairperson Kate Mwikali. He said the clean-up done monthly has not only helped in bridging the gap between the police and community but also enabled the resort town to be clean.

The police boss said every first Saturday of the month, there is a clean-up exercise to improve the standard of the town, which relies heavily on tourism.

“In the past, we have been meeting in larger groups but because of the Covid-19 surge in Malindi, we split into smaller groups of Nyumba Kumi clusters so that every small group cleans their areas and at the end of the day we make an impact,” he said.

Muli said they are being guided by the slogan ‘Our responsibility is cleaning Malindi town, Our Malindi our responsibility’, adding that the exercise is a collective responsibility for everyone as police alone cannot do it.

Mwikali said the cleanup model dubbed Nyumba Kumi which they have adopted is based on safe and prosperous neighbourhoods.

She said Nyumba Kumi is not just about security but also keeping the environment clean.

“I would urge all Kenyans, the chiefs, Nyumba Kumi and wazee wa mtaa to include environmental issues in their activities. Our collaboration with the police has brought the police service closer to the people," she said.

PWAM chairperson said when they began the monthly clean-ups in Kisumu Ndogo, the police and residents relationship was strained but now it is improving.

-Edited by SKanyara