Kenyan authorities have banned selling and buying of livestock in market along its border with Somalia to curb spread of Coronavirus.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Fisheries and Cooperatives on Friday announced the closure of open-air livestock markets saying the move will help the nation to contain covid9.
Speaking to the media, Anne Nyaga, chief administrative secretary for agriculture, said the open-air markets will remain closed indefinitely.
“Prudent supervision and compliance to the set market protocols by stakeholders has remained a concern in the continued operation of livestock markets,” Nyaga said.
Failure to observe measures
Nyaga said the decision to shut the markets was informed by realization that all the nine COVID-19 cases that have so far tested positive in Wajir County in northeastern Kenya were imported from Somalia.
She called on livestock traders to adhere to COVID-19 protocols for livestock markets.
The government put in place measures include social distancing, hand washing and wearing of face mask which people are urged to observe.
“We have noted that despite being sensitized, stakeholders are too slow to adhere to measures that have been put in place, hence the closure,” said Nyaga.
She said that the markets will have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they have the capacity to enforce the protocols and ensure full compliance before reopening.
