Yesterday, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe confirmed first coronavirus (Covid-19) death in Kenya. The death is of a 66-year-old man who had arrived in the country from South Africa via Swaziland on March 13. The man was also suffering from diabetes.
“Good evening fellow residents..
It is with very deep sadness that I share with news of the demise of our good neighbour Mr. Maurice Namiinda of house 106.
As has been already broadcasted on the TV stations, Mr Namiinda marks the first death of a Kenyan from this deadly Corona.
The family is under very close monitoring by the MoH and are currently quarantined here at their house.
We condole with them. But we request utmost respect to them as a family as they face this very unfortunate turn of events.
We also request calmness and strict continuity in the preventive measures that we are all already very much aware of.
A few of us are in touch with the family as well as a the hospital/MoH and any updates will be shared accordingly.”
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This comes at a time the National Government has directed Governors and officials in county governments to stop announcing new cases or making major announcements on the coronavirus pandemic so as to have a coordinated response.
Ministry of Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth said the directive was aimed at ensuring there is one communication center which has been headed by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe.
The directive came after Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya announced a new case after a nineteen-year-old student in his county was tested positive for coronavirus.
“We have heard reports that the governor of Kakamega indicated that they have reported a positive case. The case that was reported by the governor is actually a case that is currently admitted at the Mbagathi isolation centre, and the fact that this gentleman comes from Kakamega County…I think that is why Kakamega decided to report. But we want to appeal to the county governments that we have one central reporting system so that we’re consistent throughout our reporting in line with WHO requirements,” Dr Amoth said.
