BY ALBERT NYAKUNDI
The National Youth Service has resolved to allow students from all it’s 17 learning institutions spread across the Country to go home after Hot News exposed the institution’s disregard of a Presidential directive to close all learning institutions countrywide by March 20.
Hot News can now authoritatively report.
Uhuru on March 8 announced several measures to be observed in response to containing the spread of Covid-19.
Among the measures were closure of all learning institutions, both Private and Government sponsored.
Hot News on Saturday carried a story titled, “NYS still holding students in 17 training units despite Uhuru’s order to close.”
Hot News has learnt that the NYS Director General Matilda Sakwa over the weekend summoned senior management for a crisis meeting through a text message that required them to attend by 10 AM Monday, March 23.
Sakwa chaired the meeting that resolved to send home all students apart from “those feeling like staying behind.”
Multiple sources familiar with the goings-on told Hot News in confidence.
A staffer said the youths can go out of the training centers to attend to personal errands and return to their barracks.
“NYS is not prepared in case of Covid 19 outbreak in its training centers’, we have no reason at all to continue holding the youths.” A source told Hot News in confidence for fear of intimidation.
The source dismissed claims that the students are held to respond to emergencies.
NYS students in all its vocational training centers are estimated to be about seven thousand.
It was agreed that a circular be sent to all unit commanders immediately.
The Professional Criminologists Association of Kenya founding chairman Munene Mugambi in a phone interview with Hot News on Monday said Presidential directives should not be taken lightly by whatever party.
“I am very categorical from where we sit as PCAK and the membership. Enforcement of directives by the government should be adhered to the letter. That is the position that we are maintaining.” Mugambi said.
He supported Health CS Mutahi Kagwe’s announcement to charge Kilifi deputy governor Gideon Saburi who disobeyed a government order to self-quarantine after returning from a trip in Germany.
Saburi went ahead to hold meetings with county officials and attended public gatherings where he mingled freely with members of the public.
Hot News tried without success to get comments from top government officials including the health CS Mutahi Kagwe, Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna as well as Youth and Gender chief administrative secretary Rachel Shebesh.
They did not pick our calls and never responded to our text messages.
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