According to a study carried out by a market research firm, consumer insights, in Kenya, the outbreak of the COVID-19 has taken a toll on the country’s workforce. Following the outbreak and spread of the pandemic disease, employees have had their pay cut and in more unfortunate cases, lose their jobs.
2,359 respondents were interviewed across Africa, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, Zambia, Nigeria, Eswatini, Botswana and Tanzania in the process of the study and it was ruled that Kenya is the most affected country hit by the pandemic disease.
The pollster’s managing director, Ndirangu Maina disclosed that 86%, which is way higher than half the population of Kenyans are affected by the virus that leaves a rippling effect on the economy.
Kenya’s hospitality, tourism, and agriculture sector are the first sector negatively hit with the outbreak of the pandemic disease in the country as companies in this sector closed down.
While some companies have managed to continue running, the majority of the workers are asked to work from home in adherence to the social distancing directives put in place by the Ministry of Health. Some of these employees, however, have their salaries cut down at 76 percent.
According to 81 percent of those interviewed in the study, working from home in Kenya is either less effective or in most cases totally ineffective. The country recorded 4 death polls which include a six-year-old child who died at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The number of confirmed cases in Kenya has spiked up to 126.
Kenya’s government announced that people in Kenya should wear a face mask in public places as this will help in reducing the spread of the virus.
