Itemization of the Challenges Posed By the Outbreak of COVID-19 on the Right to Accessible and Adequate Housing in Kenya: The Need for a Presidential Directive to Salvage the Poor Kenyans from the Whims of Unscrupulous and Inhuman Landlords (Article Sample)

Itemization of the Challenges Posed By the Outbreak of COVID-19 on the Right to Accessible and Adequate Housing in Kenya: The Need for a Presidential Directive to Salvage the Poor Kenyans from the Whims of Unscrupulous and Inhuman Landlords
By Ominde Daniel*
Introduction
In 2019, an infection began as a pneumatic respiratory disease in the Wuhan District of the People’s Republic of China. The novel coronavirus reared its ugly head in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China sometime in November 2019. The virus causes the coronavirus disease once it enters the human body. Most importantly, the virus rapidly spread in Wuhan City before crossing international borders, due to its highly communicable nature.[* LLB Hons (Moi University), ATP Student (Kenya School of Law). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).[6] The disease was first identified in 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019 (accessed 10 April 2020).] [Law Society of Kenya v Hillary Mutyambai, Inspector General National Police Service & 4 Others, Petition No. 120 of 2020 (COVID 025) para 1.]
The infection later turned into a cataclysm of unprecedented levels in the history of the world. The infection was later christened ‘the Coronavirus Disease 2019,’ ‘COVID-19.’ The disease is caused by a virus known as the Coronavirus. COVID-19 is an infectious and highly contagious disease. The virus has spread across almost every part of the globe and has consumed the lives of many people, and thousands of lives continue to be lost every day throughout the globe. The disease has brought the world to a standstill as there is no substantial economic activity going on in almost every part of the world.[WHO, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report, Data as reported by national authorities by 10AM CET 04 March 2020 at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/laboratory-guidance (accessed 9 April 2020).]
The World Health Organisation declared the disease, a public health emergency of international concern. As the disease continue to spread and have devastating effects on individuals, states have resorted to taking various drastic but life saving measures, to control the spread of the virus as there still exist no confirmed cure for the disease. For instance, Kenya declared the disease an infectious disease and a state of disaster. The Kenyan Government has for that sake, come up with various measures in an attempt to or slow the relentless march of the virus.[WHO (Supra n 3).] [Ibid.] [Law Society of Kenya v Hillary Mutyambai, Inspector General National Police Service & 4 Others, Petition No. 120 of 2020 (COVID 025) para 2.]
The government has however taken very little measures to cushion Kenyans from the chilling effects of the pandemic. This study singles out the effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the housing sector and how the government of Kenya has taken measures to counter them. The study then does a comparative study with Zimbabwe, drawing lessons for Kenya to give effect to the right to adequate housing and accommodation during the pandemic.