With the escalating cases of covid-19 infections in the country, eyes are now open for every Kenyans to take a step further to make sure that they contribute to ending the curve.
With the reality of the disease continues to hit home, police officers have also taken a step to make sure that Kenyans adhere to the health protocols.
They are asking Kenyans to stop the misconception about the Covid-19 pandemic rules so as to reduce the spread of the virus.
Malindi Sub County Deputy Police commander Simon Muli said the rules were not set for the police but to ensure people are free from the pandemic.
Speaking at the Malindi police station after leading security personnel and stakeholders in the monthly clean-up exercise organized by the Progressive Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM) at the Police station he said Covid 19 was real and residents must observe the rules.
He said it was sad that some people think that the rules were set for the peo9ple to arrest people instead of taking precautions to ensure the virus does not spread.
“There has been a misconcepti0on on the side of the public that Covid-19 rules are enforced for the police and that has been a very wrong perception because Covid is not for the police, police are enforcement agents,” he said.
Muli said Covid-19 is a pandemic that is ravaging communities in the whole world and Kenya has not been spared.
So far, he said the pandemic has affected the economic and social status of the nation and must be taken with the seriousness it deserves.
“The only weapon that we can put in place to ensure that we fight this virus is through observing the basic Ministry of health protocols that is washing hands as frequently as possible, using facemasks, as well as observing all other protocols that are put in place by the national government including the social distancing,” he said.
Mr. Muli who was accompanied by stakeholders including the Kenya Red Cross Society and PWAM Chairperson Kate Mwikali said the clean-up exercise done monthly has not only helped in bridging the gap between the police and community but also enabled the resort town to be clean.
The Sub County Police Commander said every first Saturday of the month there is a monthly clean-up to improve the standard of the town which relies heavily on tourism.
“In the past, we have been meeting in larger groups but because of the Covid prevalence that has been witnessed in Malindi currently we split into smaller groups Nyumba 10 clusters so that every small group clean in their areas and at the end of the day we have an impact,” he said.
He said they are being guided by the slogan ‘Our responsibility is cleaning Malindi town, Our Malindi our responsibility’ adding that the exercise of cleaning is a collective responsibility for everyone as police alone cannot make it.
Ms. Mwikali said the clean-up model dubbed nyumba 10 which they have adopted is based on safe and prosperous neighborhoods.
She said Nyumba 10 is not just about security, burglaries and thefts but includes keeping the environment clean.
“I would urge all Kenyans everywhere the chiefs Nyumba 10 wazee wa mtaa to include environmental issues, out collaboration with the police has brought the police service nearer to the people, “she said.
The PWAM Chairperson said when they began monthly clean-ups with the police in the Kisumu Ndogo area locals kept on saying police were not bad people.
*This article was written by Ramadhan Kambi for Uzalendo News. Email: uzalendonews24@gmail.com to submit your story.
