NAIROBI — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has Beginning next month, Kenyans will be required to produce confirmation of coronavirus vaccination to enter numerous businesses, restaurants, and government offices, a major policy shift that has sparked controversy in a country where only around 5% of the population is completely vaccinated.
On Sunday, Mutahi Kagwe, the cabinet secretary for health, expressed concern over a drop in vaccinations and expressed hope that the new guidelines will inspire more people to get their vaccines. With schools closing and the country entering the holiday season, he expressed fear that people would become careless about public health measures such as social separation and mask-wearing.
Lawyers, activists, and the general public slammed the new proposal, warning against imposing a strict vaccine requirement just weeks after the easing of a long-standing statewide night curfew that stifled economic activity.
The demand is “obviously unlawful,” Waikwa Wanyoike, a prominent constitutional lawyer, said, adding that employing “threats” to encourage more people to get immunized will simply increase vaccination anxiety.
“The requirement may be correct in terms of requiring as many individuals to be vaccinated as possible,” he stated over the phone.
A shortage of money has impeded vaccination initiatives in Kenya. There have been relatively few public awareness initiatives. There aren’t many places to get vaccinated, either. Authorities have had to hustle on occasion to gain access to or purchase cold storage facilities in order to store the shots.
The new laws will apply to anyone wanting to visit hospitals, jails, restaurants, bars, national parks, or any other establishment that serves 50 or more people on a daily basis. Public transportation drivers, as well as pilots and air hostesses, will be required to carry proof of immunization at all times. Visitors from Europe will also need to be completely vaccinated before entering Kenya.
According to Dr. Githinji Gitahi, who serves on the governing board of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new standards are the most comprehensive yet implemented on the continent. Zimbabwe has made it mandatory for civil officials to undergo vaccinations, and attendees at houses of worship must provide proof of vaccination. In Uganda, all teachers and healthcare employees are required to get vaccinated, although Namibia has rejected the proposal.
The coronavirus has been linked to about 254,700 infections and 5,328 deaths in Kenya. While average case rates have decreased in recent weeks, the country’s health care system has been overburdened by a lack of immunizations and the emergence of the more contagious Delta variety. Kenya plans to vaccinate at least 30 million people by the end of 2022, but it has failed to obtain vaccines, as have many African countries.
The new limits were viewed with skepticism, with many people expressing their dissatisfaction with their impracticality. Some have cited the poor vaccination rates among adults, claiming that just 8.8% of them are fully immunized. Others warned that the mandate might lead to increased corruption, bribery, and the spread of false immunization certificates.
Critics argue that the government should not only ensure that vaccines are available to everybody, but also develop better tactics to combat misinformation and vaccine resistance.
Amnesty International Kenya’s executive director, Irungu Houghton, said the new mandate, in its current shape, risks robbing people of their freedom to work as well as crucial services like health and education.
In a statement, Mr. Houghton stated, “This plan risks domesticating global vaccine apartheid and creating those with rights and those without.”
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