Kenyans still using cash widely despite calls urging them to use mobile money to fight virus -Kagwe

Kenyans still using cash widely despite calls urging them to use mobile money to fight virus -Kagwe
Physical Money, Kagwe said, presents surfaces that can very easily be contaminated with the virus./FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 10 – Kenyans have been warned against the dangers of using cash for transactions, despite several calls urging them to use mobile money, as a means of combating coronavirus.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says use of cash in business transactions continues widely, even though mobile money operators have made it easier for such transactions.

“We have noted with concern that people continue to disregard this advice,” Kagwe said.

Physical Money, Kagwe said, presents surfaces that can very easily be contaminated with the virus.

Kagwe was speaking when he announced a jump in the number of coronavirus cases in the country by 5 to bring the total number of infections to 189.

Apart from minimizing the use of physical money, the government has also recommended social distancing and washing hands with soap frequenting as some of the ways of stopping the spread of the virus.

MARGARET NJUGUNAH

Margaret Njugunah is Capital FM’s Business Editor responsible for radio and website business content. A Mass Communications Graduate of St. Paul’s University, Njugunah joined Capital FM in 2015 as a business reporter. Her specialist areas are financial news, economic reporting, technology, corporate and development news.