Ezekiel Mutua lauds Governor Joho’s leadership during COVID-19 crisis

Mombasa County Governor Hassan Ali Joho during a past press conference. COURTESY: TWITTER/Hassan Ali Joho

Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) chief executive Dr Ezekiel Mutua defended Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho following criticism of the latter’s leadership during the COVID-19 crisis by a section of Kenyans.

Some Kenyans have termed Joho’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus as public relations stunts while others have been left unhappy following his call for a total countrywide lockdown to curb the virus’ spread.

However, Dr Mutua leapt to Joho’s defense arguing that the rest of the country’s governors and the nation’s politicians could emulate his example during this difficult period.

“Those saying Governor Hassan Ali Joho is doing PR shame on you. Why can’t all the rest do PR too? If providing leadership and saving lives is PR then we have never needed PR more in our political leadership!” Dr Mutua tweeted.

Dr Mutua’s tweet attracted a response from Joho shortly thereafter.

“Thank you brother Ezekiel. All we are doing is to do our part in serving our people. That’s what we were elected to do. This is the time where we all need to come together as leaders and as a people,” Joho’s reply said.

To which Dr Mutua replied likening Joho to Andrew Cuomo, the tenacious New York governor whose state has been hard hit by the virus in proportions significantly greater than Mombasa.

Absolutely Sir. May God guide you, give you the wisdom, fortitude and grace. You are the Andrew Cuomo of Kenya!

— Dr. Ezekiel Mutua, MBS (@EzekielMutua) April 23, 2020

Mombasa is the second most-affected county in the country after Nairobi registering 12 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Thursday.

In that same vein, Mombasa has been very active in rolling out measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus. It introduced the use of sanitizing spray booths at Likoni Ferry Terminus and constructed boreholes there to enhance hygiene. The county government has also distributed relief food and home care packs to vulnerable households.

Moreover, the county government has collaborated with private citizens to great effect such as the donation of 10 Draeger Evita XL adult to paediatric ventilators and a low temperature peroxide gas sterilizer by philanthropist Ahmad Al Falasi among others.

Other efforts by the county government include the disinfection of the central business district and the training of private and public sector doctors on COVID-19 preparedness and the redirection of water lines to hospitals, informal settlements and households. The county government has also put in place measures to help vulnerable households in case of a total national lockdown.

On Thursday, Joho unveiled the Mombasa County COVID-19 Treatment Centre located at the Technical University of Mombasa and four ambulances with critical care capacity dedicated to transferring COVID-19 patients.

Source(s): Twitter (Ezekiel Mutua, Hassan Ali Joho)