Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula on Wednesday, March 18, called for the government to make public the identities of all individuals infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Wetangula stated that it was important to make the identities of the confirmed cases public to allow anyone who might have been in contact with them to take immediate action.
Wetangula's statement was issued after it was announced that the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Kenya had risen to seven after three more individuals, a Burundi national and a couple from Spain, tested positive.
The senator noted that countries around the world including the United Kingdom, Iran and Brazil had revealed the identities of confirmed cases in their countries including celebrities as there was little stigma associated with Covid-19.
"Noting that Coronavirus is not adventure or misadventure disease as infections come inevitably from the most unexpected association, I encourage the government not to conceal the identities of our compatriots who have been found to be Covid-19 positive.
"Making the identities public, will help those who have associated with them for the past one to two weeks to quickly take measures and go for diagnosis to find out whether they have also contracted the virus of not," he stated.
Wetangula alluded to the case of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta who tested positive for Coronavirus triggering measures intended to protect staff, players and teams of English Premier League (EPL) clubs from the pandemic.
Arteta tested positive for the Coronavirus on Friday, March 13, and the EPL suspended days later.
Wetangula went on to declare that if he tested positive for the virus, he would want the result to be made public to ensure he did not put his friends and associates at risk.
"As leader of Ford Kenya and Bungoma Senator if I was diagnosed positive, I would not wish my identity to be concealed so that I can help those I associate with to come out and get diagnosed.
"In the same manner, I encourage my colleagues who might have been tested positive to agree and come out in the open as a way of eliminating any more infection," the statement read in part.
Wetangula's statement came even as it emerged that Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot was in self-quarantine after a recent trip to London.
"Appreciating the phone calls and texts. Not able to respond to all of them. I am well and relaxing at home in self-quarantine. Got a few more days to run. Stay safe and Pray. Be blessed," reads the statement he sent out across all his social media platforms.
