President Uhuru Kenyatta orders Cabinet and Executive staff to take Covid-19 vaccine

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday issued a directive days after the National Assembly Health Committee asked him to take the Covid-19 vaccine in public.

The directive was issued to the Cabinet and staff in the Executive Office of the President.

President Kenyatta asked the senior government officials to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita conveyed the presidential order via his Twitter handle just a day after a Cabinet meeting.

"As the Government scales up the roll out of the national COVID-19 Vaccine program, H.E the President has directed his entire Cabinet and Executive Office to lead by example and get the jab! Received mine this morning under the watchful guidance of the @MOH_Kenya vaccination team," the Chief of staff announced.

CS without portfolio and Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju was the first to take the vaccine just minutes after the announcement.

There have been safety concerns over the AstraZeneca vaccine currently being administered in Kenya.

The Oxford team which developed the vaccine has since lowered its efficacy rating from 79% to 76%.

At the same time, Kenya received its first consignment of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine this week with reports indicating that it will be administered at private facilities.