•On Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced a ban on public gatherings and in-person meetings until further notice.
Image: DENNIS KAVISU
Politicians and party chiefs are using new strategies to reach out to their supporters following the state’s fresh clampdown on public gatherings.
They are targeting town halls, private residences, and churches to reach out to their backers as 2022 elections timelines grow thin.
ODM leader Raila Odinga was hosted at Suna East MP Junet Mohammed’s residence after attending a church service in Kakamega.
Deputy President William Ruto attended a church service set up under a tree in Langata, ostensibly to allow more people to sit within social distancing rules.
Ruto, however, said he had postponed his political activities until further notice, citing the escalating Covid-19 situation.
“We should take individual responsibility and adhere to the guidelines issued so as to control the ravaging pandemic,” the DP said.
Presidential hopeful Jimmi Wanjigi hosted a team of his backers at his rural home the previous night in efforts tied to the 2022 race.
Senator Gideon Moi retreated to his Baringo backyard where he attended a church service at AIC Kabarnet.
Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Saturday held a town hall meeting with party delegates and aspirants from Mombasa.
On Friday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced a ban on public gatherings and in-person meetings until further notice.
The Covid-19 National Emergency Response Committee directed the police to strictly enforce the directive, dealing a blow to the politicians.
CS Kagwe said such gatherings should be undertaken virtually or postponed until a later date.
“We cannot hesitate to take even further measures if we see that the adherence to these restrictions is low,” Kagwe said.
“We want to be part of the solution. We ask those participating in politics to be part of the solution other than being the epicentres of spreading the disease,” the CS said.
Activities lined up by President Uhuru Kenyatta, DP Ruto, Raila, among other politicians were affected by the fresh directives.
Raila had announced meetings to engage with residents of Western, Nyanza, Coast, and Upper Eastern and also commission development projects.
DP Ruto had lined up a two-day tour of Mt Kenya East counties of Embu, Meru, and Tharaka Nithi to popularise the United Democratic Alliance ideals.
The DP was scheduled to address various meetings in Tharaka Nithi on Saturday and pitch camp in Embu on Sunday.
National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, who is in the race to succeed Uhuru after 2022, was to be hosted by Mt Kenya politicians at Meru next Saturday.
The meeting was to have him ‘received as the son’ of the region following his crowning as Mt Kenya spokesman at the Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga in May.
“We have cancelled our meetings because lives and livelihoods come first. We intend to comply with the Covid rules 100 per cent,” Muturi said.
In what may further shrink the political space, attendance of funerals has been capped to 50 people, and burials in 72 hours.
Churches, which have provided a safe haven for politicians, have been capped at a third of their capacity – translating to smaller crowds for political banter.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said there would be no further discussions on the matter as the meetings have already been prohibited.
“Those meetings have already been prohibited. Ours is to ensure there are no gatherings that endanger the lives of Kenyans,” the police chief said.
Mutyambai said the state will use all measures to ensure those targeted with the restrictions cooperate and comply.
“I give directive to all commanders to ensure compliance with all those measures. I give instructions to all officers of the national police service that all protocols be enforced and measures stepped up,” the IG ordered.
However, observers raised concerns as to whether politicians will adhere to the directives restricting public gatherings.
This is considering that the president issued a similar directive, which was to lapse on August 29, which has been flouted by various groupings.
Various leaders have been holding public gatherings despite the nationwide ban, meetings which health experts say are triggering Covid-19 waves.
Kenya Union of Clinical Officers led by secretary general George Gibore lamented that Kenyans have dropped their guard in the fight against the virus.
“We no longer follow our established policies to combat the pandemic,” he said, with the chairman Peterson Wachira pointing fingers at politicians.
“Our politicians have been gathering people in meetings and even without masks. They must know they are leaders, and leadership demands that you protect the lives of the people you lead because you cannot lead people who are dead,” Wachira told journalists in Nairobi.