DIANI, Kenya Dec 1 – Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Dr. Zhou Pingjian has defended the country’s strong anti-COVID-19 policy following widespread criticism.
Ambassador Zhou said those criticizing China are not basing their arguments on facts, given the minimal cases recorded in the country from the global statistics.
“China has done and continues to do the right thing in the fight against COVID-19,” he told editors attending the Annual Kenya Editors Guild (KEG) Convention at the Leopard Beach Resort in Diani.
China has lately intensified tough action and lockdowns in several cities where new cases were reported, sparking protests from locals.
But the Ambassador said this government action was taken to protect the people given the large population of more than 1.4 billion people.
“When you look at the population in China and compare it with the cases and deaths reported, you will appreciate that the action taken has helped save lives,” he said, adding that “the anti-covid policies taken in China are science-based.”
By Thursday December 1, there were 6,615,258 deaths from COVID-19 across the world with 5,333 in China.
Positive cases had hit 639,572,819 with 327,964 in China.
“We could be having many more cases and deaths today were it not for the tough action taken by our government,” he told the Editors at the convention also attended by Gwaro Ogwaro, the Director of Government Advertising Agency (GAA) who represented Information Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo.
The Cabinet Secretary representative at the convention urged local media houses to come up with innovative solutions to reap from the digital space due to the shrinking advertisement in the traditional media.
He said the government is keen to revamp the Kenya News Agency (KNA) and the state broadcaster Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) which has been ignored by previous regimes.
Local private media houses are facing brutal turbulence and many have resorted to layoffs or pay cuts as part of measures to trim their operating costs.
Editors attending the KEG convention urged the Information Ministry to expedite payment of Sh1.157 billion owed to various media houses from advertisements. A further Sh300 million is still pending but not been cleared for payment due to outstanding issues.
Gwaro was not committal on when the funds will be paid due to pending cases in court.
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