COVID-19 measures: What’s this with Kenyan politicians holding rallies, gatherings left, right, and centre?
Despite an existing directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Ministry of Health banning social and political gatherings in the country, political bigwigs, who have their guns trained at the 2022 presidency and other influential seats, have continuously flouted Covid-19 protocols leaving trails of infections and fatalities of the contagious disease.
The country's political top brass like former premier Raila Odinga, Deputy President William Ruto, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, KANU supremo Gideon Moi, ANC Leader Musalia Mudavadi among other leaders, have been on a campaign trail in total contravention of Covid-19 protocols that continue to suppress activities of the common mwananchi.
The country has over the past week witnessed a flurry of political activities as the leaders took their forays to different regions drumming up support for their respective aspirations. The rallies, that attract hordes of youths and women, have numerously been marked by the Health ministry as 'super spreader' events that leave streams of Covid-19 infections.
ODM Leader Raila Odinga on Sunday September 27, 2021 concluded his three day tour of the Mt Kenya region holding series of stopovers that attracted mammoth crowds. The former prime minister, who was flanked by leaders from the region, sought to increase his odds in the vote-rich region that has lately been perceived as a Ruto bastion. Raila's rallies clearly had a potential of spreading the contagious disease among the equally uncaring attendees.
Deputy President William Ruto, just fresh from a last week Lower-Eastern region tour and a Saturday September 26 rally in Awendo, Migori county, played host to delegations from Narok, Kajiado and Nakuru Counties at his Karen Residence, Nairobi County. In his Ukambani tour, the second in command made series of stopovers attracting crowds and in turn exposing them to the novel Covid-19 disease.
Just like their competitors, One Kenya Alliance leaders have also been traversing the country in a bid to popularise their new fangled outfit. Mudavadi, Wetangula, Gideon Moi and Kalonzo have respectively been holding meetings across the country at the expense of the vulnerable electorate.
The re-emergence of political gatherings has partly been blamed on the politicians and the electorate attending the rallies. Relevant ministries have also had their fair share of blame for dropping their guard and allowing the leaders to continue flouting Presidential directives.
