CoronaVirus

Since the first recorded case in Kenya in the month of March, the government responded with directives aimed at minimizing the spread of Coronavirus. This included a nationwide dusk to dawn curefew, partial lockdown, closure of learning institutions, no gatherings that affected religious gathering just to mention a few. We have termed this as the "new normal" forcing all operations online, salary cuts, loss of jobs, affecting the economy adversely.

In Kenya, efforts to contain the coronavirus since the first reported case in March led to closure of schools on the 16th of the same month until to date. This has had diverse effects on the learners health, also exposing them to increased risk of violence, maltreatment, gender-based violence and sexual exploitation.

The National Research Fund (NRF) is a statutory body established by Science, Technology and Innovation Act No. 28 of 2013. The institution is domiciled under the Ministry of Education, State Department for University Education & Research. The Fund is mandated to facilitate research for the advancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in the country.

CS Education Minister, Prof George Magoha appointed a 10-member team dubbed the COVID-19 Education Response Committee chaired by Dr. Sara Ruto the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development Council Chairperson. Their mandate is to explore ways to restore normalcy in the basic education sector's academic calendar, advise the CS on ways of on-boarding students when the schools re-open, document all COVID-19 related matters, lessons learnt and recommendations for future preparedness. Schools have been closed since March 15, after the outbreak of coronavirus in the country.

The Kenya Bureau of Standards(KEBS) has suspended the permits of 8 local hand sanitizer brands for failing to meet its requirements. In a statement, the regulatory body said the brands were identified after constant surveillance and were effectively banned for being potentially harmful to consumers.

“KEBS shall continue to undertake market surveillance and factory inspections. Substandard products found will be seized for destruction at the expense of the owner in addition to any other legal action as provided under the law,” the statement said.

The University of Nairobi's is conducting an assessment on Kenyans understanding and level of interaction with vaccines. Further, we are trying to understand the level of knowledge of the Corona Virus in Kenya as part of the research process. Kindly fill out this survey to help us improve our understanding of these issues.

The government has launched a special designated isolation and treatment facility for the healthcare workers at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi as the healthcare workers cases rise to 281.

The facility, set up by the Ministry of Health and private health organisations – the Rockefeller Foundation and Amref, will be used to offer treatment to health workers who are on the frontline in the war against coronavirus.

UPDATE FROM THE VC ON THE COVID-19:

Dear students, please watch this brief video on how learning will be ongoing via our digital platforms. You are not on holiday, the closure of the University was a safety measure. Learning is ongoing. How? Watch the video and check your emails regularly.