Just a week after The National Assembly submitted to the Ministry of Health a list of MPs and Parliamentary staff it wanted to be tested for COVID-19, results now show that up to 17 Kenyan Members of Parliament and Senators have tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus.
The shocking news was broken to the public through Radio Africa Group Editor Oliver Mathenge who on Tuesday night posted a sneak peek of Wednesday’s Star Newspaper and atop the frontpage lay the headline: “Alarm As 17 MPs and Senators Test Positive For COVID”.
The test became necessary after it turned out that over 50 parliamentary staff had interacted with Rabai MP Kamoti Mwamkale, who recently tested positive for the virus.
The two-term MP is said to have contracted the disease after coming into contact with Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi during the March 9 burial of Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori.
Some of the influential figures who publicly announced to have taken the test include Siaya Senator James Orengo, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and their Narok counterpart Ledama Ole Kina – who through his Twitter account confirmed to have tested negative.
At the moment, uhondo.news cannot establish the exact names of the persons confirmed to have the illness but subsequent updates shall be issued immediately the full exclusive story by the city publisher is made available.
Also worth noting is that a Swahili news story by Standard Media Group’s KTN News reports that the number of legislators infected could actually be up to 30.
Despite the scanty details, however, the ever-reactionary netizens took to the replies section to react to what could turn out to be terrible news in the country’s fight against the spread of the pandemic – considering how reckless politicians have proven to be in such delicate times.
In a joint interview with three Kikuyu radio stations this morning, President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed that he personally ordered the arrest of Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi for defying quarantine order and spreading the coronavirus disease in the country.
He added that Saburi should be imprisoned for 10 years to serve as an example for those who put the lives of other people at risk.
Saburi was arrested on Friday after he was discharged from Coast General Hospital, where he was receiving treatment for Coronavirus and recovered.
On Monday, a Mombasa court ordered he be detained for three days pending a ruling on his bail application on Thursday. The prosecution is seeking to have him held for 14 days to allow police to complete investigations.
During the interview, Uhuru urged Kenyans to strictly adhere to the preventive measures issued by the government.
Earlier today, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced 14 more cases of the COVD-19 disease, bringing the total of confirmed cases in the country to 172.
In his address to the press, he noted that 12 of the new patients are Kenyans and two foreigners.
Story Source: Uhondo News
