Attn: SPORTS EDITORS

INTENSIVE NATIONAL VACCINATION EXERCISE OF KENYAN ATHLETES ENDS

On 8th April, we rolled out an extensive vaccination exercise targeting all our national Teams with specific priority to Teams participating in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, all personnel working on the WRC/ FIA Safari Rally Kenya, World Athletics Under 20 Championships, World Athletics Continental Tour, the Rugby Barthes Cup, all Sports SAGAS, specifically Sports Kenya, the Kenya Academy of Sports, Antidoping Agency of Kenya, Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund and all Ministry of Sports frontline staffers.

As the mass vaccination exercise for the first dose comes to an end today, I am pleased to report that we have so far vaccinated 4,255 of the target population who reside in Nairobi County. Further, another 200 based in other Counties outside Nairobi City have also been vaccinated. We plan to continue with the vaccination exercise in consultation with the Ministry of Health to cover any athlete or athlete handler set for national assignments who may have been left out due to factors beyond their control.

I wish to sincerely thank my colleagues Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health and General Mohammed Badi, Director General, Nairobi Metropolitan Services and the County Governments of Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet for facilitating this exercise which will pave way for our teams to safely compete in international events with the full protection of the vaccine. Further, I thank the health workers who undertook this exercise in an extremely professional, passionate and meticulous manner.

I also wish to appreciate athletes and all who presented themselves for the vaccination exercise. Your cooperation and discipline towards this exercise has been excellent. Finally, I urge you all to continue observing all the protocols laid out by the Ministry of Health.

Issued at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nairobi on 16th April, 2021.
Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed, EGH, CAV
CABINET SECRETARY