The COVID-19 virus has cut a swath through Public Service offices in Kenya’s capital of Nairobi forcing many of them into total lockdown and curtailing services.
The Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs headquarters has been completely shut down for 10 days after one employee died of COVID-19 complications.
Scores of workers at the Ministry are self-isolating after testing positive.
Principal Secretary (Telecommunications) Esther Koimett (pictured) said staff would resume work only if the situation improved.
The wave of infections is severely restricting access to other services, including processing of retirement benefits at the Treasury where 20 per cent of all staff are sick with the virus.
Principal Secretary, Amos Gathecha says everyone at the Ministry was being tested.
“We have requested the Ministry of Health to conduct testing for all the staff of the National Treasury… they will conduct 200 cases every day,” Mr Gathecha said in a memo to section heads.
The virus has ratcheted up stress and disrupted work across Government offices, where workers older than 58 years were already directed to work from home.
Work is nearly impossible because most Government documents are not digitised.
The World Health Organisation says older people face a significant risk of developing severe illness if they contract COVID-19 due to physiological changes that come with ageing and the potential for underlying health conditions.
The Public Service Commission said young people comprise only 17.4 per cent of the Public Service, mainly because the Service has not recruited for a number of years due to budget constraints.
As a result many Public Servants are on the brink of retirement, adding to staff shortages in key areas and boosting an already bloated annual pension bill.
In total, an estimated 700,000 employees work for Government in Ministries, Local Government, the Teaching Service and the disciplined forces.
Nairobi, 21 July 2020
