Following President Uhuru Kenyatta's declaration of Nakuru as one of the Covid-19 hot spots, Governor Lee Kinyanjui has ordered the closure of non-critical offices.
The county government lost some of its staff and recorded an increase in the number of Covid-19 infections among its staff.
In a statement to newsrooms, Kinyanjui said that the decision was arrived at after consultations and in view of protecting its staff from getting infected with Covid-19.
"The safety of our employees and customers is core to our operations. Having lost critical members of our staff and several testing positive for Covid-19, it has become necessary to review our work environment," said Kinyanjui.
The government directed that the offices shall remain closed for at least a month during which the staff shall be required to operate remotely.
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"In view of the severity of the third wave of Covid-19, the non-core offices will remain closed for 30 days effective March 29, 2021. Staff members are expected to work from home in strict compliance with Ministry of Health Covid-19 protocols," said Kinyanjui.
The county government has in the last one month lost two senior members of the executive while several others are said to be recuperating at their homes.
County Chief Officer for Health succumbed to Covid-19 related complications at a Nairobi hospital on March 22. He is set to be buried this Saturday at his home in Lanet, Nakuru.
His death came shortly after Deputy Director of Political Affairs Senior Sergeant (Rtd) Wilfred Chebochok who died on March 16.
Among the departments Kinyanjui listed to continue operating and offer essential services include Health care, water, disaster response units, revenue, general cleaning, finance and procurement.
"We consider these measures as important in curtailing the high Covid-19 infections witnessed in the recent days. When the existence of the human race is at stake, short-term sacrifice is essential for eventual survival," said Kinyanjui.
Majority leader at the county assembly of Nakuru Moses Ndung'u welcomed the President's move terming it as a step in the right direction.
Ndung'u who is recovering after battling with the virus said that though the economy will be hurt, it is worth protecting the lives of the residents.
"Nakuru has in the recent past lost many people to the virus. Almost every village now has a scar left behind by the virus. I have been in isolation for the last few weeks until last Saturday when I tested negative of the virus," said Ndung'u.
He added that the county assembly had already gone to a short recess until early next month.
"Chances were that we wouldn't resume sittings next month due to the upsurge but now that the President's declaration has come first, we welcome it," said Ndung'u.
Nakuru Business Association (NBA) chairman Muchemi Mwangi said that the move will be detrimental to the county's economy seeing that Nakuru is a major transit route.
"Nakuru will greatly suffer during the period. We didn't anticipate this drastic measure just when businesses were picking up. We now urge the government to focus on increasing vaccine uptake during the lockdown and support the health system," said Mwangi.
The county on March 25 reported 121 new confirmed Covid-19 cases bringing the total number of infections in the county to 6,135.
Eight deaths were reported on Thursday raising the total number of fatalities in the county to 148 with a case fatality rate of 2.4 percent.
The county reported that 114 current admissions out of which 90 people were placed under supplemental oxygen.
kgachuhi@standardmedia.co.ke
