Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman, on Wednesday, July 22, addressed claims that a Cabinet lockdown had been instituted.
Speaking to the press at Afya House, the CAS denied the claims President Uhuru Kenyatta had barred Cabinet Secretaries from travelling across the country over Covid-19 virus.
He further explained that the circular that informed of the purported lockdown and picked up by numerous news outlets was meant to reinforce measures issued by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus.
"I would like to inform you that there is no such thing as a cabinet lockdown as we have seen in the news. I could see that lockdown was being surmised on the fact that there was a circular that came out of the office of the head of public service.
"The circular was simply to reinforce measures that the state has put in place for the civil servants and public officers to observes. There is no such thing as a Cabinet lockdown," he stated.
A circular from the office of the head of public service had insinuated that the CSs had been grounded from touring the country after three reportedly contracted the virus.
"The President ordered that the trips be halted for two weeks as part of curbing the spread of Covid-19,"The Standard had quoted a source.
Several CSs had been touring the country, launching development projects after the head of state delegated the duty to the Executive.
Interior CS Fred Matiang'i, ICT's Joe Mucheru. Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and Treasury CS Ukuru Yattani were forced to cut short their tours following Kenyatta's directive. Kagwe had embarked on county tours to assess the preparedness against Covid-19.
Executives, Eugene Wamalwa (Devolution), James Macharia (Transport) and John Munyes (Petroleum and Mining) were also grounded after they commissioned the tarmacking of the historical 15 KM Gisambai - Hamisi - Shamakhokho road.
Another notice from the Ministry of Education had also made rounds on social media announcing of cessation of movement for all staff in Nairobi.
"You are consequently advised not to move out of Nairobi for the next one week until advised otherwised," read the letter in part which was dated Tuesday, July 21.
It bore the signature of Education CS George Magoha and was addressed to all staff as well as the CAS and principal secretaries.
In his address, Aman also noted that action would be taken against bars and restaurant selling alcoholic drink without proper licenses noting that some eateries had taken advantage of approval to operate to sell alcohol.
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