Man, 27, cycles from Busia to Moyale in COVID-19 awareness campaign

A 27-year-old man began a journey on a bicycle from Moyale township on the Kenya-Ethiopia border heading to Busia on the Kenya-Uganda border.

The journey of close to 2,000 kilometers is his own initiative as a COVID-19 awareness campaign.

He arrived in Isiolo on Wednesday.

Fredrick Ochieng’, a father of two, began the journey last Thursday and expects to complete it in 29 days.

When he arrived in Isiolo, he made a courtesy call to the County Commissioner’s office before speaking to journalists.

Ochien’g plans to traverse at least 14 counties focusing on the need to observe the guidelines laid out by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation in fighting the pandemic.

He will pass through Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Meru, Laikipia, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nairobi, Nakuru, Kericho, Kisumu, Siaya and Busia.

Ochieng’ who is originally from Siaya has been working in Marsabit as a casual labourer.

He is also seeking to campaign against two other problems: drug and substance abuse and teenage pregnancies whose statistics have caused public uproar in the recent past.

During the stopover, he called on residents of Isiolo to observe social distancing and proper hygiene for their own sake.

He noted that it was disheartening to realise that many Kenyans wear face masks only for fear of being harassed by the police and not to protect themselves from a possible infection.

On his part, Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi warned Kenyans against dropping their guard, as the viral disease continues to claim lives regardless of their position in the society.

He lauded the effort by Ochieng’ to sensitise members of public against COVID-19, arguing that local leaders seem to have grown tired of the exercise.