Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has opposed a directive issued by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe in an attempt to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
According to a report by People Daily, the politician was concerned by the state's directive to convert a number of schools into isolation facilities.
Addressing a presser in Bomet on Monday, April 6, the former county boss claimed that using educational centres would create stigma among learners and some of them would not want to return to the institutions after the pandemic
“If we convert schools as centres for treating Covid-19 patients, students from the particular institutions might not go back due to stigmatisation,” he stated.
Instead, Ruto suggested that the state should order the Kenya Defence Forces and National Youth Service to put up isolation structures in all counties.
He further observed that if the state released the funds in time, the temporary structures would take a shorter time to be readied for the pandemic.
Kagwe, in a presser on Monday, March 30, disclosed that the state would use boarding schools if the pandemic continues spreading.
He further noted that the country was prepared for the worst outcomes as airport hangers and other public facilities would be converted into isolation centres.
“Everything remains on the table. We are seeing other countries putting up stadiums. We have boarding schools which can take up to 300k capacity. This is our advantage.
"There are airport hangars too and if it is necessary we shall activate them,” explained Kagwe.
900 schools are set to be converted into isolation facilities if the directive goes through. Kenyans under quarantine at Lenana school have, however, decried poor services in the institution.
Deputy President William Ruto was in support of the directive noting that the schools would be well equipped to serve their purposes.
“The government has directed the ministry of education to work with all county govt’s to identify at least 20 boarding schools per county to be prepared/equipped for use as health facilities as part of Covid-19 preparedness,” Ruto stated at the time.
158 Kenyans have tested positive of the virus that has claimed six lives in the country.
