Buy residents food before lockdown - Weta

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula has urged the government to release money to counties to buy food for their residents ahead of a planned lockdown.

Wetang’ula said that it will be the best way to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

“The majority of residents are held indoors, hence, can’t move to look for food. Let the government feed its people,” Wetangula said in Webuye.

The Ford Kenya leader said that Bungoma has enough maize, banana, beans and sweet potatoes in stores that the state can buy and distribute to residents.

“Kenyans move out daily to look for cash to feed themselves, the lockdown will starve them. The government should release cash to feed them,” he said.

The lawmaker said the Covid-19 disease is real and people should not dismiss it.

He called on the government to reduce the heavy presence of long-distance trucks plying the northern corridor all the way to Uganda.

Wetang’ula said that the drivers and their turn boys were a major health threat to transit towns of Bukembe, Kanduyi, Kimaeti, Amagoro and Malaba.  

“We are a frontier county and the porous borders can be the main challenge including the high presence of trucks heading to Uganda,” Wetang'ula said.

He also asked the government to disclose the names of those who have contracted the disease.

“We can no longer hide their names. The Health CS has a right to mention the names of the affected persons,” Wetang’ula said. 

He said the government should follow the example of international celebrities including footballers and politicians who have declared their status. 

Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga urged clerics to hasten the funeral rites.

“They should shorten their sermons. This will help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The mourners should also observe the hand-washing directive,” he said.

(edited by o. owino)