Assembly suspends sittings indefinitely over virus surge
Nairobi County Assembly yesterday adjourned its sittings indefinitely owing to a spike in coronavirus infections.
While moving the motion of adjournment, Leader of Majority Abdi Hassan Guyo said the House was greatly affected by the pandemic as most members were battling with the disease.
“Most of us are victims of this virus including myself who has just recovered. We have to put our health first if we want to continue serving our residents,” Guyo said.
Speaker Benson Mutura revealed that at least 50 MCAs have contracted Covid-19, with at least 35 currently recovering.
However, four are hospitalised with two being on oxygen therapy while the rest are on home-based care.
Mutura said all committee sittings will only be done virtually until further notice.
“ I propose that we suspend our physical sittings. Should any paper be submitted, the committee shall consider having it done virtually.
The clerk will facilitate all committee sittings are done virtually,” he directed.
Leader of Minority in the assembly Michael Ogada also supported the decision to suspend physical sittings saying it will help in containing spread of the disease.
“Nothing is as important as life and we have to take leave as an Assembly to monitor this disease because it has greatly affected Nairobi. This virus is real and it is striking hard,” he said.
For the Assembly staff, 80 per cent will also work from home with essential staff only allowed within the Assembly precincts.
Last month, City Hall lost five employees to coronavirus complications.
Boost Covid response
MCAs also urged Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) to boost its Covid-19 response structures as most city residents have contracted the disease but have nowhere to isolate or get treatment.
“NMS should be up to the task. Most residents have nowhere to take their sick relatives.
We need to have temporary shelters put in place with fully-fitted oxygen and beds,” said CBD Ward MCA Daniel Ngengi.
In the current financial year, the Major General Mohamed Badi-led administration received Sh294 million from the national government towards response to Covid-19 control.
This was part of Sh7.7 billion advanced to the counties in conditional grants as part of urgent Covid-19 interventions with Sh5 billion as conditional grants, Sh2.3 billion as allowance for frontline health workers and grants from Danida totalling Sh350 million.
NMS has constructed several Covid-19 isolation centres including a 160-bed makeshift isolation facility at Mbagathi Hospital, a 190-bed capacity Lady Griffiths Hostel isolation centre at the Kenya Medical Training Center (KMTC) and a 90-bed capacity isolation centre at Pumwani School of Nursing.
