AfricaPress-Kenya: Senators have now formed a seven-member committee to explore ways of helping in the fight against coronavirus.
The team will also explore how to cushion Kenyans from the vagaries of the virus.Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen proposed that a stimulus package be established for micro-, small- and medium-sized businesses to protect them from the economic hardships occasioned by the virus.The team will also propose ways of ‘easing’ legislative and regulatory requirements for doing business.
Mr Murkomen, while moving the motion, called for a broad-based stimulus programme that will take care of the poor.“If we are not going to guarantee food for Kenyans living in the slums, they will walk and get to Muthaiga and other posh areas to get food,” said Murkomen.
He lauded the National Emergency Response Committee chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe for its interventions to contain the spread of the disease.
“The Emergency Response Committee on coronavirus should be expanded to include representation by Parliament, the Judiciary, the Council of Governors, the media, and private sector,” he said.His minority counterpart James Orengo (Siaya) cautioned the government to prepare for the worst, going by trends in other countries and put in place adequate measures to combat the disease.
