The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) staff are yet to receive their March salaries, with the organization claiming that the coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected their liquidity.
As the government ramps up efforts to contain the virus, one key chain in the distribution of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) drugs is PCK.
A staff at the parastal body explained;
“It’s on the 15th of April and we haven’t received March salary. Some are still waiting for February salary. There’s a lot of mismanagement at Posta and we’ve been getting delayed salary payment. Posta is considered essential service and it’s been tough working without pay. We play a big role in the distribution of medical supplies and KEMSA among others pays us a good amount. Ifikie rais’, he said.
According to PCK Post Master General, Dan Kagwe, suspension of international passenger flights has affected the corporation’s international business operations, resulting in decreased revenue, as they can no longer complete international orders.
At the beginning of March 2020, Kemsa CEO Jonah Manjari said although there are enough masks in the country, the agency has started the process of the procuring a million more for contingency purposes.
“We had initially encountered an obstacle because of the lack of the masks, but now we have identified a some retailers who have them and we have asked them to set aside a certain quantity for us because we as a government intend to buy them and supply them to Kenyans as is our responsibility,” Manjari said.
Coronavirus fight
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe Friday said five of twelve are hotel workers while four were traced by the Ministry of Health surveillance teams.
He said the cases arise from 450 newly analyzed samples.
“What this is tells us is that we need to increase our capacity of testing so that the contacts of those people who are positive can also be tested so that we can be able to contain the pandemic.”
Kagwe was speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when he received a consignment of medical supplies from China including Personal Protective Equipment delivered by the national carrier, Kenya Airways.
He was accompanied by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi and Transport ministry’s James Macharia.
On Wednesday the Ministry of Health received another consignment of surgical masks, gloves, face shields, gowns donated by China, Germany and France through the World Health Organization.
The Ministry also received a second batch of donation from Jack ma foundation including swabs, ventilation machines, thermometer guns and medical gloves.
Kenya has recorded 53 recoveries and 11 deaths as a result of the disease.
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