President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, April 1, chaired a coronavirus emergency taskforce meeting via a video link.
Footage of the deliberations has since been shared, giving Kenyans a glimpse of the workings behind the scenes as the nation comes to grips with the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Let me begin by thanking each and everyone of you for agreeing to come on board at this difficult and important time in our country and in our history,
As we all work together and pull whatever limited resources we have to ensure that we cushion the majority of our people from the impact of this deadly virus," he stated.
However, midway during the meeting the president veered from the meeting all together and made statements that seemed to be directed at the general population, and not meant for the exclusive meeting he had convened.
"I am calling upon every single Kenyan wherever you may be, please, whatever it is, no matter how big or how small, every single Kenyan is important to us at this particular point,
"I want to particularly thank the private sector who have agreed to keep their companies going, who have agreed not release their workers to ensure they go on to earn their daily bread, I know it's a sacrifice but it's a sacrifice that's truly welcome. This is a time to for us to come together and each of us should do what we can to help out," he stated.
He then turned his attention back to the meeting and assured the specially selected committee led by East African Breweries Managing Director Jane Karuku, that he would offer them 150% support in all their deliberations.
Uhuru also thanked petroleum companies who were responsible for converting the illegal ethanol that was siezed by the government to sanitizers that were now being handed out freely across the country.
This was the first time that president Uhuru chaired a meeting of the board that was created to marshal funds for combating the Coronavirus disease.
"We thank you Kenya Breweries for agreeing to distribute, for free, those sanitizers across the country and using your distribution chains to help us," the president further remarked.
President Uhuru, through an executive order issued on Frebruary 28, directed the formation of a national emergency response committee on Coronavirus as part of measures to contain the deadly epidemic that has sent shockwaves across the world.
During his press briefing on April 1, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that the total number of individuals that had tested positive for Covid-19 stood at 81.
Watch the video of Uhuru's first meeting with the special corona taskforce below:
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