This statement is made as a response to the story in today’s Daily Nation
newspaper under the headline "What Social Distance: How not to Fight Covid-
19."

The gist of the story is that, I, the County Police Commander, and other officials
organized a public gathering contrary to the Public Health Act, and failed to
enforce social distancing during distribution of masks in Maua Town yesterday.
Political leaders from the region have also posted scathing attacks on us
accusing us of harbouring an evil scheme of launching Covid-19 infections in
Maua. This is a sad, and a very unfortunate episode in the fight against
coronavirus.

The fact of the matter is that as Governor of Meru, I am taking the fight against
Coronavirus very seriously. I have mobilised all available human and financial
resources of the County Government of Meru for this fight, and we are working
very closely with the National Government led by the County Commissioner and
the County Police Commander. Indeed, I am co-chairing the County Emergency
Response Committee on Covid-19 with the County Commissioner of Meru.
Knowing very well that Covid-19 has no cure and we don’t have enough doctors,
trained medical personnel, and facilities to deal with serious cases of Covid-19,
we have decided to undertake a very intense public awareness campaign and
to enforce the preventive measures prescribed by the National Government.
Our strategy is very simple-prevention, prevention, and prevention
everywhere.

In implementation of this strategy, the County Government has decided to
purchase water tanks, masks, sanitizers and sprayers for bodaboda operators
and small scale traders in our main markets, and to support our frontline
workers including doctors, clinical officers, nurses, police officers, enforcement
officers, public health staff and the chiefs.
We started the program on Tuesday, 21st April, 2020 in Meru Town where we
distributed water tanks, masks and sanitizers through our MCAs and the
Municipal Board. The social distancing and hygiene rules were strictly observed
during the exercise and there were no complaints.
On the following day, Wednesday, 22nd April, 2020, we distributed water tanks,
masks, sanitizers and PPEs to police officers, chiefs, and our frontline medical
personnel. The functions went on very well and social distance rules were
strictly observed.
On Thursday, 23rd April, 2020, we organized to distribute water tanks, masks,
sanitizers and sprayers to the bodaboda operators and small scale traders in
Maua Town through Maua Town Board, and Sub-County Administrators. The
function did not proceed as planned. Despite our pleas for social distancing,
many people, who included some rowdy youths surrounded us. Some shouted
they needed food, not masks. We understand that these youths were sponsored
to heckle us. The situation got out of hand, and it was difficult to implement the
social distance rules. After brief address, we gave the items to the Town Board,
and launched the spraying of the market with our fire engine and left
immediately thereafter.
We later proceeded to our office in Meru town to review the function and plan
how such future distribution will be handled without breaking the social distance
rules.
It is very painful to hear some leaders who are doing nothing to fight
coronavirus in Meru County impute malicious motives on our efforts, and incite
people through social media, by claiming that we had an evil scheme to launch
Covid-19 infections in Maua. We are genuinely doing everything possible to fight
coronavirus in Meru County. Our focus is only one; to save the lives of the
people of Meru.
It is very inhuman, primitive and Machiavellian to play dirty politics with
coronavirus, which is a serious matter of life and death for our people.

No amount of noise, political propaganda or social media insults will distract us
from our tireless efforts in the fight against coronavirus in Meru. We shall
allocate even more resources, and relentlessly take the fight to every market in
Meru.
Fortunately for us, so far, not a single case of coronavirus has been reported in
Meru County. We hope and pray, that none will be found.
May God Protect and Keep us Safe.

H.E. Kiraitu Murungi, EGH
Governor, Meru County