Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has challenged the government to come up with a plan to cushion the poor amid hard economic times caused by coronavirus pandemic.

The senator Majority leader on Tuesday afternoon moved a motion demanding the government to establish a cash transfer programme to cushion over 10 million families living in informal settlements.

Murkomen said there was a need for the government to cater to the basic needs of families including the provision of food and water.

“A broad-based stimulus package is needed to cushion the poor of the poor from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. If we do not guarantee food to Kenyans living in Mathare or Kibera slums, they will walk to Muthaiga to get food for themselves,” he said.

In his motion, Murkomen called for the enactment of favourable measures to ensure the continuous supply of food and other essential commodities at affordable prices.

He also called for keen consideration of people with mental health problems in the execution of the 7 pm to 5 am curfew and hiring of more doctors and nurses to deal with the virus.

He further called for an all-inclusive process of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic that brings to the table economic experts, political leaders from across political divides, business and religious leaders as well as the media.