Machakos Governor Mutua Asks Uhuru to Deploy Military to Enforce Nationwide Curfew

Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has urged President Kenyatta to deploy the military to enforce some of the government orders aimed at combating the spread of Covid-19. 

Mutua said operators of bars, nightclubs, and entertainment joints have been flouting Covid-19 rules including the nationwide curfew and closing times.

He claimed that police have been unable to enforce the orders and instead, used the opportunity to enrich themselves by taking bribes to allow the joints to continue operating during curfew hours.

“You know the police even have a pay bill now; you’re stopped by the police at midnight or 1 am, they know that you don’t have cash and if you send them an M-Pesa they can be investigated, so they’ve set up a pay bill…unatuma, unaonyesha imeingia, anakuwacha unaendelea…that’s the level of corruption we’ve come to in this country,” said Mutua.

“The bars are open in Buruburu, Kayole, Nairobi, in the suburbs and most of the counties…they’re open until morning and nothing is done. If the police are not able to do it, then let the President roll out the military…let the military come out and go bar to bar and shut them down without any fear or favor.”

Mutua also hit out at political leaders for holding huge meetings and gatherings in complete disregard of the Health Ministry’s guidelines on Covid-19.

“It (wearing of masks) is new here in Kenya, and then it gets complicated because we’re saying ‘wear masks’…so when we see the deputy president, for example, going to a church function with his troops of sycophantic followers not wearing masks in a public gathering, what does that tell a young person?” Mutua posed.

“We’ve got this recklessness, this ‘don’t care’ attitude in our leadership that has actually led to the deaths that are happening today.”