The President of Kenya has announced salary cuts for himself and his deputy as well as for a category of senior officials. Any savings should be used to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that he and Vice President William Ruto would forego 80% of their salaries, while cabinet secretaries and chief administrative secretaries would each suffer a 30% salary cut and permanent secretaries a 20% cut.
He also announced 100% tax relief for those earning less than 24,000 Shillings (214,115.56 frws). Income tax is reduced from 30% to 25%.
President Kenyatta confirmed the increase in the number of cases of infected people from 4 to 28.
He also reported the recovery of a patient from covid-19. And in order to safeguard the health of the most vulnerable, all public officials with a medical history or aged 58 and over are allowed to work at home or take leave. From this Friday, 27 March 2020, a curfew will be imposed on the population from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Elsewhere in the region
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Félix Tshesekedi declared a state of emergency on Tuesday evening and Kinshasa was isolated from the rest of the country. 48 cases and three deaths have already been recorded. In Tanzania, President Pombe Magufuli asked the population to pray because, according to him, only God can defeat the coronavirus. In Burundi, officially no cases have been noticed. The supreme authority remains silent. In Uganda, President Yoweli Kaguta Museveni has announced the closure of all borders as of this week. The test against the coronavirus gave a positive result for 9 people.
Gerard Rugambwa
