CS Matiang’i addressing the press from the Kenya Meteorological Department offices in Nairobi
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has sent a warning to certain neighborhoods in Nairobi and Mombasa which he says have been notorious of flouting guidelines set in place by the government to help curb the spread of the deadly COVID-19.
Speaking to press on Wednesday morning, Matiang’i said that since Kenyans in some areas have refused to heed to warnings on ill behavior in regards to honoring the stringent protective measures, the government shall now begin applying tougher methods to ensure lives are secured.
A total lockdown in some of the areas, he said, are among the options the State is considering.
Speaking on the current floods ravaging some sections of the country, Matiang’i told the persons who live in areas that have been labeled as danger zones that the government had raised alert in dealing with the heavy downpour that has caused the flooding.
“We have given instructions this morning to our regional security team in North Eastern and in parts of Eastern and Coast to begin moving people away from danger. That level of alert will remain raised for the next week or two until we are satisfied that we are away from danger. The waters in the dams have risen to unprecedented levels,” Matiang’i said.
Cautioning that a disaster would be witnessed if necessary measures by the government were not followed, Matiang’i explained that the government had no option other than evict innocent Kenyans from their homes to avoid endangering their lives.
“We are moving some people by force, we have instructed the county commissioners, county security teams in Garissa and in Tana River to move everyone who is endangered, even if it means putting them in lorries ourselves. For those who are in the ways of danger particularly in Tana River and Garissa, we are moving you. Start moving before we come. We have to ensure that you are safe and we are not going to spend time negotiating with you because we would rather negotiate with you when you are alive,” he declared.
