Martha Karua Wants Gov't to Provide Free COVID-19 Testing and Treatment

Nark-Kenya party leader Martha Karua wants COVID-19 testing and treatment to be offered for free in all public hospitals.

Addressing reporters on Monday, Karua said the effects of the pandemic have left many Kenyans in financial distress and cannot afford the high costs of treating the disease.

“The government must immediately take up the cost of testing and treatment of COVID-19 patients in all public hospitals, and avail the vaccines in all public hospitals countrywide,” Karua said.

Karua noted that President Kenyatta’s decision to lock down five counties of Nairobi, Nakuru, Kajiado, Kiambu, and Machakos will have devastating effects on the country’s economy and the lives of Kenyans, adding that the solution to the current crisis is to invest heavily in the health sector and buy vaccines in bulk. 

“Cessation of movement in 5 counties is in effect a lockdown of the whole country for they are a gateway to the country,” said Karua on Monday.

“It’s a case of missed opportunities and misguided efforts, by now we should be having testing capacities in all 47 counties, capacity to respond to the critically ill and we should have the benefit of improved health services countrywide,” she added.

Karua indicated that millions of Kenyans are likely to lose their jobs as a result of the lockdown rules and urged the government to put in place measures to cushion them.

At the same time, she questioned why those accused of looting funds set aside for the COVID-19 fight are yet to be brought to book even after the President gave investigating agencies 21 days to conclude a probe into the scandal.

“We are reminding you for the umpteenth time, 21 days are over, we have another COVID wave and your government has not caused the arrest and prosecution of the culprits, we must continue demanding,” Karua told Uhuru.