LEADERS CAUTIONED AGAINST POLITICIZING COVID 19 FIGHT

Kakamega Deputy Governor H.E. Prof. Philip Museve Kutima has cautioned a section of Kakamega County leaders against politicizing the fight against coronavirus pandemic.

He said Kenya had put up a united front against COVID 19 virus and any cracks in the nation’s solidarity would endanger the health and safety of millions of Kenyans.

The deputy governor made the remarks today at Butali Sugar Millers factory during the sugar miller’s presentation of various items worth to assist Butali community in the fight against the virus. They included relief food, hand sanitizers, water dispensing tanks, face masks and COVID 19 awareness leaflets.

The deputy governor said Kakamega County had set aside KShs. 105 million in the latest supplementary budget to purchase PPEs for Health care workers, masks, sanitizers and fumigation solutions as well as cushion vulnerable and poor members of the community against the projected huge shortfall in revenue collections at the County and National level. Prof. Kutima added that the money cannot be spent until the relevant bill is submitted, this week, to the Members of the County Assembly for consideration and approval.

“It is therefore disingenuous for some leaders to allege that the County Government had failed to plan and take action against the pandemic,” he said.

Prof. Kutima who was accompanied by several Members of the County Assembly led by deputy speaker, Hon. Leonard Soita, Malava Sub County Deputy County Commissioner, Mr. Harrison Muli and senior members of management at Butali Sugar Millers led by the Managing Director, Mr. Sanjay Patel, said Kakamega County had established key COVID 19 committees namely; Budget, Public Health and Donations, and Resource Mobilization to strengthen its three- pronged attack on the pandemic.

Also present was Mr. Luke Otipo, the deputy director in charge of Administration in the office of the deputy governor.