GLOBAL - A landmark public inquiry in the United Kingdom has concluded that the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic was "too little, too late," directly blaming the leadership failures of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson for catastrophic outcomes. The report, released on Thursday, 20 November 2025, by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry chaired by Baroness Heather Hallett, presents a stark analysis of delayed lockdowns and a chaotic culture in government that offers critical lessons for nations worldwide, including Kenya.

The inquiry's second report found that a "toxic and chaotic culture" within Johnson's Downing Street office hampered the pandemic response. It concluded that introducing a lockdown just one week earlier in March 2020 could have saved an estimated 23,000 lives in England alone. The report described February 2020 as a "lost month" where Johnson failed to grasp the severity of the impending crisis, did not chair any emergency COBRA meetings, and received minimal briefings on the virus. Reacting to the findings, the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice UK group stated, "it is devastating to think of the lives that could have been saved under a different prime minister."

A Mirror to Kenya’s Pandemic Struggles

While the UK report focuses on British political failings, its findings on leadership, accountability, and economic trade-offs resonate deeply with Kenya's own experience. The Kenyan government, led by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, implemented a series of swift and stringent measures after confirming its first case on 12 March 2020. These included a nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew starting 27 March 2020, cessation of movement in and out of key counties, closure of schools, and a ban on public gatherings.

However, Kenya's response was not without significant controversy and hardship. The economic impact of the lockdowns was severe, particularly on the informal sector, which employs over 80% of the Kenyan workforce. A study by the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) showed that the lockdown between April and June 2020 led to a 5.6% drop in GDP, an 11.8% reduction in employment, and significant income losses for households. These measures, intended to save lives, created immense economic distress, mirroring the difficult policy decisions faced by leaders in the UK and elsewhere.

The Universal Challenge of Accountability

A central theme of the UK inquiry is political accountability—a challenge that also defined Kenya's pandemic narrative. While Johnson's government was criticized for a chaotic culture and ignoring scientific advice, Kenya's government faced widespread accusations of corruption. The "COVID millionaires" scandal at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) became a flashpoint for public anger. Investigations revealed that KEMSA irregularly awarded tenders worth approximately $72 million (KES 7.8 billion at the time) for COVID-19 supplies, often at highly inflated prices to politically connected firms.

This alleged corruption undermined the public health response and eroded public trust. A Human Rights Watch study found that a government cash transfer program meant for vulnerable households often failed to reach its intended recipients due to corruption and irregularities. These events in Kenya, paralleling the leadership failures identified in the UK, underscore a global lesson from the pandemic: effective crisis management is impossible without robust governance and public trust.

Lessons for Future Preparedness

The UK inquiry's first report, published in July 2024, had already concluded that the country was not adequately prepared for a pandemic. The latest findings reinforce the need for what Baroness Hallett termed a "major overhaul" of how governments prepare for civil emergencies. For Kenya, the lessons are twofold. First, the pandemic exposed both strengths—such as a pre-existing laboratory network and a whole-of-government approach—and critical weaknesses in its public health infrastructure. Gaps in the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and the capacity of hospitals highlighted areas needing urgent investment.

Second, the issue of accountability remains paramount. The public outcry over the KEMSA scandal led to the suspension of top officials and calls for reform that are still ongoing. The UK inquiry's meticulous, public, and evidence-based dissection of government decision-making provides a powerful model for accountability. As both nations continue to recover from the deep social and economic scars of the pandemic, the core message from the UK report is universal: leadership that is decisive, transparent, and guided by science is not optional in a public health crisis—it is the only path to saving lives.