The number of cases of Covid-19 in Kenya have risen rapidly from the first reported case on 13 March 2020 to the publication of this background paper in June 2020. To date, Kenya has the highest number of reported infections and deaths compared to its neighbouring countries. Currently, the impact and spread of infections are feared to be exacerbated by the huge number of people living in poverty; a weak health infrastructure; overcrowding in informal settlements; and poor access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation and hygiene.
The government is undertaking various measures to curb the spread of the virus, including limiting movement in places with reported cases; closure of public spaces with high human traffic, such as schools and public events; dusk-to-dawn curfews; and ensuring basic hygiene and social distancing.
However, these precautionary measures continue to have negative economic impacts on businesses and workers. The country has witnessed job cuts across various sectors, and incomes of businesses and available working hours for staff have fallen significantly.
These shocks and disruptions are likely to be felt both in the short and medium term. To cushion Kenyans from these impacts, the government of Kenya has established the National Coordination Committee on the Response to the Corona Virus Pandemic (NCCRCP) to assess the impact of the virus and come up with various feasible recommendations for the economy.
This background paper presents a critical appraisal of the economic impacts of Covid-19 on housing, transport, food security and the labour force in Kenya. It then goes on to look at the various measures initiated by the government across these areas and their impacts on the lives of Kenyans – particularly people living in poverty[1] and the most vulnerable. The paper concludes by providing recommendations on how best to improve these measures moving forward.
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