Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja on Wednesday, August 26 confirmed that top county government officials and Members of the County Assembly had tested positive for Covid-19.
Of 23 new cases confirmed in Taita Taveta in the past two weeks, thirteen are County Executive Committee (CEC) members and County Assembly officials including MCAs and staff.
The Taita Taveta County Assembly has since ceased operations following the wave of infections.
The County Government has also been affected, with the Governor ordering rapid testing of all county staff and fumigation of county headquarters in Mwatate. All sub-county offices will also be fumigated.
Close contacts of the County Assembly members and CECs were also traced and have since been placed under quarantine.
Samboja noted that the testing of county workers was meant to avoid putting lives of county staff, their families and members of the public at risk.
“I wish to single out the speed and urgent attention the County Health Care Workers have given to this outbreak and level of dedication and sacrifice demonstrated in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
“All the county residents are equally urged to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines and directives aimed at stemming the spread of the Covid-19 transmission in the county,” Samboja’s statement read in part.
At the same time, the Kirinyaga County Assembly has also ceased operations after one case of Covid-19 was confirmed among its members.
John Baptist Kanga, Kamumu Ward MCA who also chairs the County Assembly Ad-Hoc Committee on Covid-19 said the decision was made to protect members.
He disclosed that voluntary testing had been undertaken on county assembly staff and members, with the confirmed case sparking fears that the number could be higher.
“One of our staffers tested positive and is in self-isolation. It is an asymptomatic case. We will take a recess and combine it with a break to put safety of members first,” Kanga revealed.
The assembly itself will be closed for 21 days during which time it will be thoroughly fumigated.
