Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho disclosed that he had hung some friends and his residents out to dry in order to adhere to President Uhuru Kenyatta's cessation of movement directive.
Joho, while speaking on NTV on Thursday night, April 23, stated that a number of people were reaching out to him, pleading him to assist them to flout Kenyatta's order.
The governor also lamented over how the Coastal residents were putting themselves at risk by exposing themselves to Covid-19.
"Every day I get calls and someone asks me to assist them travel to Nairobi or Kilifi.
"This puzzles me, because I wonder what language can such people understand. You are not supposed to go anywhere but to stay at home. Everybody is at risk because Coronavirus (Covid-19) is just outside your doorstep," Joho cautioned.
With calls urging the government to tighten its noose in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Nairobi counties, which are dubbed Covid-19 hotspots, Joho warned that Mombasa residents would blame themselves if stringent measures were to be undertaken.
"We supply food for you, we take up our responsibilities. Yet all we ask you to do is to stay at home. Our culture and traditions put us on the spotlight as we still want to mingle.
"We have informed Mombasa residents to temporarily halt their normal habits, but my people still want to share meals and eat together on one plate. This is dangerous. I, nevertheless, informed them that if they do not stop Coronavirus, it will stop them," Joho warned.
The Orange Democratic Movement leader further reiterated that his government was hell-bent on ensuring that the residents were safe and medical practitioners were given ample time to undertake their duties.
"Despite challenges such as insufficient test kits and personal protective equipment (PPEs) arising, we have set up many measures to ensure residents are protected. The national government and county governments are coordinating to provide them.
"If the cases escalate, we wouldn't want to heap more pressure on our doctors as they also work within a schedule and later on quarantine. They have to be safe as they are humans and we do not want to see a case scenario whereby numbers overwhelm them. As we run away from Covid-19, they run towards it. I urge all of us to take responsibility and we (government) will do ours," Joho rallied.
Video: NTV
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