Githurai locals in forefront of fighting pandemic spread
Residents of the populous Githurai 45 estate in Ruiru, Kiambu county, are leaving nothing to chance to stay safe following the announcement that the constituency had recorded three Covid-19 cases.
Since the announcement on Monday, residents have intensified protection measures to avert further spread of the virus.
The larger Githurai area, Ndongoro, Thindigua, Tinganga, Waithaka and Wataalam villages in Kiambu are among areas that Health minister Mutahi Kagwe has called on residents to exercise caution in their day-to-day activities after they reported one coronavirus case each.
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Some residents led by 45-year-old Peris Wakarura have taken it upon themselves to fumigate motorbikes, PSVs and tuktuk cycles before they leave the stage to ferry passengers.
The single mother of six has also rallied four men who have been sensitising residents on the need for social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands regularly, among other measures recommended by the Ministry of Health.
“We have also been fumigating where the street urchins spend their night because we don’t want to lose even a single life,” said the woman, who has put aside her pastoral duties to keep locals safe.
Their efforts are complemented by PSVs and boda boda operators who are heeding government directives of ferrying less passengers and sanitising them.
Patrick Mwaniki, the chairman Githurai Tuktuks Association, said since CS Kagwe announced the area had been hit by the virus, all their vehicles are fumigated daily.
Richard Chege, a boda boda rider, however, regretted that since the dawn of the virus in the area, their customers have started stigmatising them as possible carriers.
“It’s not easy. Customers think since we have been ferrying strangers from left to right we could be infected,” he said.
To complement the residents’ efforts, Simon Ng’ang’a King’ara Foundation, a philanthropic group based at Ruiru, has also been giving out free soap, water tanks and masks while educating locals to keep safe.
