Nairobi County assembly Speaker Hon Beatrice Elachi has called on the government to provide relief food and sufficient water to slum dwellers to help combat the spread of coronavirus.
Most of these slum dwellers survive on hand to mouth hence, adequate relief food and enhanced security will ensure people stay at home and help contain further transmission of this killer virus.
“The government should use food cards to ensure no one is left
out and that every family gets food. When the state comes to give a household food, they will be given the food card which will be used as evidence to avoid insufficient distribution of food,” Elachi said.
Hon Elachi further appealed for sufficient and uninterrupted water supply to ensure people regularly wash hands to prevent the spread coronavirus.
“ The Ministry of health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has repeatedly emphasised that washing hands with soap and clean running water is the simplest way of fighting Covid-19. But how can our people in the slums fight it if they lack water?” Elachi quiped?
Last week, Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company announced that three of the city’s most populated informal settlements of Kibera, Mathare and Mukuru kwa Njenga will receive water five times a week. The company said 10 water tanks were to be distributed to enable free washing of hands.
“Let the tanks be distributed in the informal settlements for the availability of water. And because it is a scarce commodity, water bowsers should be on the ground to ensure constant water supply. If we don’t look out for the people in these areas, Covid-19 will spread like desert fire once it gets there,” Elachi added.
On security, Hon Elachi said that police presence should be enhanced to help beef up security.
“There also must be a 24-hour of electricity supply. in Kawangware area break ins have been recorded despite the heavy police presence” The speaker lamented.
By cushioning the vulnerable members of the society, we shall be protecting the population. Hon Elachi said.
