Impact Analysis Study
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Impact of Covid-19 Measures and Responses on Minority and Indigenous Communities in Kenya Submitted by: Duncan Otieno, Senior Policy Advisor, Sentao Kenya May 2020 Contents List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................... i Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ ii Introductions ................................................................................................................................... 1 About Minority Rights Group International................................................................................ 1 Background of the Study ............................................................................................................. 1 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................................... 5 Rationale and Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................ 5 Scope of the Study....................................................................................................................... 5 Study Methodology ......................................................................................................................... 7 Literature Review ........................................................................................................................ 7 Key Informant Interview ............................................................................................................. 8 Limitations of the study............................................................................................................... 8 Research Findings and Analysis ..................................................................................................... 9 Analysis of Selected Case Studies in the Globe .......................................................................... 9 Analysis of Government Responses in Kenya .......................................................................... 17 National Government ............................................................................................................ 17 County Governments ............................................................................................................. 20 Nakuru County ................................................................................................................... 20 Turkana County ................................................................................................................. 22 Baringo County .................................................................................................................. 23 Bungoma County ............................................................................................................... 24 Lamu County ..................................................................................................................... 25 Laikipia County ................................................................................................................. 26 Narok County ..................................................................................................................... 27 Mandera County................................................................................................................. 28 Isiolo County ...................................................................................................................... 29 Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................................... 31 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 31 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 32 References ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Appendices .................................................................................................................................... 37 List of Key Informant Interviews .............................................................................................. 37 Key Informant Questionnaire .................................................................................................... 38 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms ASAL Arid and Semi-Arid Areas BAME Backs, Asians and Minority Ethnic CAHESH Campaign for Health, Education and Sanitation CERC County Emergency Response Committee CESR Center for Economic and Social Rights CRB Credit Reference Bureau ECOSOC Economic and Social Council ESP Economic Stimulus Programme FY Financial Year ICU Intensive Care Unit IPOA Independent Policing Oversight Authority KIIs Key Informants Interviews KMTC Kenya Medical Training College LSK Law Society of Kenya MDAs Ministries Department and Agencies MDHHS Michigan Department of Health and Human Services MRGI Minority Rights Group International MSMES Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises NERC National Emergency Response Committee NGO Non-Governmental Organization OAG Office of the Auditor General OCoB Office of the Controller of Budget PBO Parliamentary Budget Office PPEs Personal Protective Equipment PwD People with Disability STIs Sexually Transmitted Infections TB Tuberculosis UN CRPD United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UNAMI United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq WHO World Health Organization i Executive Summary Context The outbreak of the COVID-19 in Kenya in March 2020 prompted the Government of Kenya to put in place containment measures meant to stop the spread of the virus in addition to mitigating adverse effects of the pandemic. Although the virus started as a health issue it later morphed into a socio-economic problem. In order to respond to both the intended and unintended consequences of the pandemic, the government unveiled a series of measures meant to cushion both the economy and the citizen. In this research we focused on minorities and indigenous persons in Kenya for a number of reasons. Anecdotal evidence available suggests that Blacks Asians and ethnic minorities (BAME) are among the most affected by Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the minorities and indigenous persons are traditionally domiciled in informal set ups such as forests hence they are unlikely to be considered by governments while conceptualizing mitigating measures against the pandemic. It is against this backdrop that the study sought to assess the impact of such government measures and responses on the minority groups and indigenous communities in Kenya. It is expected that, the findings of this study will go a long way in informing policy and advocacy interventions in respect of implementation of the rights of minorities and indigenous persons in Kenya. Methodology The analysis is based on a desk review and data analysis of the legislations, legal notices, regulatory and government policy documents besides analyzing the regular briefs and reports issued by the National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus; the Presidential Address on Enhanced Measures in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic; Council of Governors’ Press Statements on Preparedness of Counties on COVID-19; and individual County Reports on the response towards the pandemic.. The study also benefitted from the input from the key informants who were drawn from the nine counties under the study. ii Key Findings • The study observed that the level of awareness among the minority group and the indigenous communities in Kenya remains low given that both the levels of government focused much in creating awareness about the pandemic in the usual ways without paying deliberate attention to the unique needs of the minority groups. • Further, the outbreak of the pandemic in Kenya exposed the existence of inequalities among the Kenya society. The government measures for mitigating the pandemic were largely targeting the urban population with no deliberate initiative to reach out to the minority groups and indigenous communities who are mainly located in rural areas and in particular, include forest dwellers. • In addition, the study found out lack of transparency in the usage of the public finance set aside for Covid-19 interventions both at the national and county levels. Reports of alleged embezzlement of funds meant for COVID-19 interventions besides cases of nepotism were also reported in the course of the study. • The minority groups and indigenous communities in the counties under review felt excluded from the covid-19 interventions given that most of those interventions targeted urban and formal populations yet most of the minority groups and indigenous communities are forest dwellers • The COVID-19 Emergency Response Committees at the National and County levels did not have a representation from the minority groups and indigenous communities. This ultimately led to a near exclusion of the minorities from benefiting from the government responses to COVID-19. For instance, an analysis of the Supplementary budget estimates for the FY 2019/20 for Nakuru County Government shows that the minority groups and forest dwellers in Mau East and Mogotio (Endorois) are not among the beneficiaries from the funds set