Governor Nyong’o orders all open air markets closed down

 Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong'o addressing the press in Kisumu today where he has announced closure of all open air markets across the County-Photo By Dickson Odhiambo

 By Dickson Odhiambo

March 23, 2020 

Governor Nyong’o orders all open air markets closed down

KISUMU Governor Prof. Peter Anyang Nyong’o has today ordered all the open air markets which are still operating in Kisumu County closed indefinitely over the issue of corona virus pandemic.

The Governor’s move comes barely two days after he ordered for the immediate closure of Kibuye Open Air market in Kisumu City which is one of the largest open air market in East and Central Africa.

Addressing the press in Kisumu today where he has ordered the closure of the remaining open air markets in Kisumu County, Governor Nyong’o said notwithstanding the statement the County Government gave last week regarding measures that all people should take to avoid getting corona virus, it has come to their attention that some people are still continuing with business as usual especially in open air markets.

“All open air market which are still operating must be closed with immediate effect in the entire county. You are exposing yourself to the risk of getting corona virus which will then put all of us in danger. Ask the Italians who lost 784 people yesterday alone to corona virus,” said Nyong’o in a press statement.

Some of the open air markets targeted in Kisumu County include Holo, Ahero, Kombewa, Awasi, Katito, Otho, Ombeyi, Muhoroni, Pap Onditi, Sondu among others.

Nyong’o at the same time has banned all types of gathering within Kisumu County which include places of worship, chamas, wedding, bus parks and funerals.

The Governor also ordered for the immediate closure of all funeral homes and mortuaries both private and public ones.

“Hospital mortuaries will only be used to keep bodies of inpatient cases strictly for 48 hours before burial and all burials within the county will strictly be for family members who must not exceed 15,” Nyong’o adds.

Governor Nyong’o has urged all the residents of Kisumu County to strictly adhere to the orders given so far failure to which arrests will be made to those who will disobey them, adding that this will be in line with the Public Health Act.

Nyong’o also asked those currently gathering in all public places to go home by today 2:00pm this afternoon, adding that this is for their own safety and that of the society at large.

Nyong’o further said that the Kisumu Main Bus Terminus will be under quarantine from this afternoon, adding that plans are underway to de-congest it.

Kisumu County Commissioner Susan Waweru says all the foreigners visiting the county must be quarantined for a period of 14 days, adding that the county does not take chances in regard to the alert given so far on the disease known as Covid-19.

“We don’t take chances and will are quarantining all foreigners visiting our county of Kisumu due to Corona virus alert,” Waweru says.

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