President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday issued a 21-day ultimatum to all investigative agencies probing the alleged theft of COVID-19 funds at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa).
Speaking at State House, Uhuru said that the matter is of public interest.
“Given the public interest the relevant agencies should expedite investigations and conclude the same within 21 days…All persons found to be culpable from the ongoing investigations on COVID funds should be brought to book notwithstanding their social status or political affiliations,” he directed.
On Tuesday, Kenyans on social media piled pressure on the president to issue a statement into the alleged theft following one from Deputy President William Ruto and another from ODM boss Raila Odinga.
While noting that Kenya has made huge strides in combating the spread of coronavirus, he extended the operation time for eateries by one hour – to 8 pm.
He also lifted s restriction place earlier on all licensed eateries from selling alcohol.
Uhuru, however, warned that the decreasing numbers of COVID-19 infections do not call for “irresponsibility”.
“We must acknowledge that this news is not a licence to backslide from our path of responsibility. Responsibility is not a burden but a civic duty. It is something you seek as a task. It is a habit that you pay to your fellow citizens,” he remarked.
He extended a ban on the closure of all pubs and restaurant for a further 30 days while also extending the dusk to dawn curfew for a similar period. The curfew starts from 9 pm to 4 am.
He also announced 213 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of infections to 33, 016.
Some 241 patients were also discharged in the last 24 hours. The cumulative recoveries is now 19,296.
Sadly, five more patients succumbed to the virus bringing the death toll to 564.
