Author: Eva Nyambura

Persons under 14 day mandatory quarantine in government selected facilities will be required to continue their stay for an additional 14 days. In a memo to heads of directorates and those in charge of the quarantine sites, director general Dr Patrick Amoth said that the persons could have contracted the disease as they did not observe the set guidelines. According to Dr Amoth, the persons who are among the 2,050 who had traveled outside the country did not observe social distance, and the prescribed hygiene measures. As a result, he said, they could have contracted the disease and are not…

A Kenyan pastor now based in the UK is under investigation for selling kits supposed to protect people from coronavirus. The man of the cloth, prophet Climate Irungu Wiseman is selling the “plague protection kit” made of oil and red string for a whopping Sh10,000. On his website, the self proclaimed prophet says, “It is by faith that you can be saved from the Coronavirus pandemic by covering yourself with the Divine Plague Protection Oil and wearing the Scarlet Yarn on your body.” On March 21, he claimed the Lord instructed him to prepare oil mixed with cedarwood, hyssop, and prayer…

National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi has set strict rules for 349 members of Parliament (MPs) as sittings resume on April 8. The 27 guidelines are meant to safeguard the legislators as the novel COVID-19 continues to spread. The MPs are expected to deliberate on the stages of the 2020 Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill containing proposals on revenue collection. Only 70 lawmakers will be allowed into the chambers with priority being given to those who register. Clerks will notify the MPs via text or any other means when the house is to sit. “The notification will require MPs to register their…

Captain Daudi Kibati of Kenya Airways (KQ) who succumbed to the novel COVID-19 on Wednesday had tested negative for the virus on three occasions. According to his brother, Arnold Kibati who spoke to K24 Digital, said the retired Kenya Air Force officer decided to stay away from his family until he was certain about his health. Arnold said that his deceased brother had after flying the last flight from John F. Kennedy Airport, checked into Ole Sereni hotel where he self quarantined. That was on March 24. He was tested twice for the bug, but both tests came back negative.…

Deputy President William Ruto is not tending to cabbages at his Sugoi Farm as the country fights the novel COVID-19. A picture doing rounds on the internet suggested otherwise but according to the “hustler” he was fighting the spread of the virus alongside his boss, president Uhuru Kenyatta. In a tweet, the DP noted that they were looking for ways to combat the disease that has spread to at least 204 countries. “HE Uhuru, our teams and I are working on PRACTICAL strategies to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. All OPTIONS are on our cards,” he said. He also asked…

Kenya has confirmed 12 more cases of COVID-19,  Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi has said. This brings the total number of cases to 122. Of the 12 cases, 11 are Kenyans and a Somali citizen. Contact tracing for these patients, she said, has started and the victims moved to isolation centres. Further, Dr Mwangangi has said, one person, a six year old child has succumbed to the disease. The child was admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital but was also ailing from other undisclosed diseases. This brings the total number of fatalities to four. On Thursday, CS Mutahi Kagwe announced the…

Kilifi deputy governor Gideon Saburi was on Friday afternoon arrested for violating quarantine guidelines that require him to self isolate for 14 days. Saburi was apprehended by at least 20 officers after he was discharged from Coast Genera Hospital after recovering from the novel COVID-19. He has been taken to Port Police Station where he is likely to be charged for refusing to self-quarantine upon return from an official trip to Germany on March 7. DCI detectives are said to have camped outside the hospital from as early as 9 am. Saburi is accused of endangering other people’s lives by…

Former world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang was on Thursday night arrested for disobeying the dusk till dawn curfew gazetted on March 27. “This order shall apply during the hours between seven o’clock in the evening and 5 o’clock in the morning with effect from 27 March 2020, and shall remain in effect for a period of thirty days thereof,” the notice read. Kipsang was in the company of a Kapchemutwa ward representative identified as Ambrose Kiplagat and 18 others. They were found in a popular Iten club taking alcohol after 7 pm. Confirming the incident was Elgeyo Marakwet Police…

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe has denied that the government was playing PR when they announced that Brenda Cheruiyot and Brian Orinda had recovered from COVID-19. An irate Kagwe castigated social media users who trivialized the lives of the two recovered persons. “It is unpalatable for anyone to trivialise the lives of Kenyans. I condemn this,” he said. “I am saddened that some Kenyans have gone to social media to make a mockery of the situation…. Really?” He called upon the police to arrest those making these claims on social media platforms. Brenda and Brian met President Uhuru Kenyatta via video…

Airtel Kenya will starting April 1, give 2 per cent extra airtime to all its prepaid customers for all recharges following the government’s directive on reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16 per cent to 14 per cent as way to cushion Kenyans. Prepaid customers can use the bonus to purchase airtime for voice, data, SMS or bundle purchases while postpaid customers will have the benefit of the 2 per cent tax relief reflected on their monthly bills. The bonus will automatically reflect on customer accounts upon every recharge from the various options including recharge vouchers, E-PINS, Airtel…

Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire was on Tuesday night taken ill after developing chest pains while in quarantine at his home. The legislator told his constituents that he was in a stable condition but has since been tested for the coronavirus. The test results, he said, should be back within 48 hours. “Good morning great people of Ganze? I’m still very stable and with great hopes. I’m waiting for my results which will be due between 24 – 48 hours from yesterday evening. “I’m in my house under self-quarantine but not admitted,” he said. Mwambire also urged Kenyans to take precautionary…

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday praised “patient zero” for her bravery. In a virtual meeting between himself, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and two COVID-19 patients identified as Brenda and Brian, the head of state said they were living proof that the disease can be dealt with. “We are celebrating your bravery..you were able to limit your contacts and identify them and trace them…and there is no single death..you are a very wonderful and brave girl..” the president said. He praised Brenda for going to the hospital and limiting the number of contacts. Uhuru also noted that she was resourceful in…

Tanzanian heartthrob Diamond Platnumz’s manager Sallam Sharaf has recovered from the deadly Covid-19. Taking to Instagram, Sharaf who was isolated on March 13 after testing positive for the virus, said two tests have confirmed that he is coronavirus free. Thanking God and the medics, Sharaf added that he is now out of isolation. “After 14 days got tested twice and both results came negative and now I am out of isolation centre. Thanks to Allah. Thanks to doctor’s nurses and the government,” he wrote. He also said, “He added: “Nimshukuru Allah, na pia niwashukuru wote mlionitumia msg, comments, DM na…

Another Kenyan residing in the US has died of the deadly coronavirus. 38 year old Peter Juma passed on on Saturday, a week after being taken ill with the novel COVID-19 in New York. The deceased worked as a bus driver for a New York based airport. According to family members, Juma had visited his relatives in Kenya in December and only returned to America mid-January. “He was with us since December 25 and returned to the States mid-January. We had no idea that was the last time we would see our son alive,” a family member said. His parents,…

Kenya’s largest telecommunications company Safaricom today welcomes its new chief executive officer. Peter Ndegwa takes over the reign of power from acting CEO Michael Joseph. Ndegwa was appointed to the position in October 2019, following the passing of Bob Collymore in July, the same year. https://twitter.com/SafaricomPLC/status/1245228478615769088 Ndegwa takes over at a time when the world is grappling with the coronavirus pandemic which has paralysed businesses. Companies are shutting down operations. Safaricom has on its part revised times during which their shop remain open which translates into loss of business. At the end of last week, the telco shareholders lost Sh244.5…