Barely a week after the government tentatively allowed restaurants to reopen from 5 am to 4 pm, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe seemed unhappy. Unschooled in the principles of public health, the police have completely misunderstood the objective and seen the measures as opportunities to extract bribes. Kagwe’s repeated decrying of Kenyans’ supposed “indiscipline” has treated the public as children needing the rod of the state to straighten them out. This scepticism is now being transferred to the health system, resulting not just in defiance, but also in people staying away from health centres, and fearful of being tested. Until Kagwe and his colleagues learn to address Kenyans as adults and to treat them with dignity, there will be more frustrating days ahead for them.

Source: The Star May 17, 2020 03:56 UTC