Nyeri, Kenya — With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in Kenya more than a year after the pandemic’s arrival in the country, public health measures remain at the centre of the response. In Nyeri, a town three hours north of Kenya’s capital Nairobi and the economic hub of Nyeri County, the local government recognized early that its citizens needed a deeper understanding of the importance of such measures and how to keep putting them into practice.
In September 2020, the Nyeri County Department of Health conducted a detailed briefing on public health measures with around 50 minibus taxi drivers, supported by funding from the World Health Organization (WHO). Duncan Ndarithi, who runs a fleet of about 100 minibus taxis in Nyeri, attended the briefing and has continued to take the message to heart.
New measures included keeping a safe distance, wearing masks, and washing hands before boarding.
Duncan Ndarithi remains dedicated to the wellbeing of his passengers. Having learnt about the spread of COVID-19 and preventive measures such as correct mask-wearing and good hand hygiene at last year’s briefing by Nyeri County Department of Health, he is determined that his drivers and riders must always follow the rules.
In line with national regulations, Ndarithi makes sure that running water and soap are always available for his drivers and clients.
“Those drivers who don’t follow the COVID-19 measures, we call them to the office and fine them. And if they repeat the mistake, then we let them go,” Ndarithi says. “We try to follow all the rules and do our best to help protect people.”
“The fact that Duncan and his colleagues immediately put what they’d learnt into practice shows that they’re concerned about the situation, themselves, and their clients,” said Betty Tole, WHO Risk Communications and Community Engagment Officer.
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