Student Tests Positive for Covid-19 in Kakamega - Oparanya

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya addressing the media on March 16, 2020.
Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya addressing the media on March 16, 2020.
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UPDATE 4:10 p.m.: The Ministry of Health (MoH) states that a Covid-19 case reported by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is not a new one.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe told Kenyans.co.ke that the case of the 19-year-old student was among the 3 cases reported by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, March 25.

The incident prompted MoH's acting Director-General of Health, Patrick Amoth, to warn governors against announcing or giving updates on Coronavirus cases in their counties.

Speaking during a press briefing at Afya House, when three more cases were confirmed, Amoth stated that the country had only one central reporting system.

"We have had reports that the governor of Kakamega has reported a positive case. The case that was reported by the governor is currently at the Mbagathi Hospital isolation center.

"The fact that the man comes from Kakamega County, I think that is why the governor decided to report but I want to remind the leaders that we have a central reporting system so that we are consistent in all our reporting in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines," he added.


UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Kenyans.co.ke contacted Health CS Mutahi Kagwe who stated that the Ministry of Health was not aware of the additional Covid-19 case announced by Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. 

"I will reach out to the Kakamega governor for more information," Kagwe told our newsdesk.

We also spoke to Government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna who also stated that he was not aware of a new positive Coronavirus case announced earlier by the Kakamega governor.

"As of now, I do not know of any coronavirus positive confirmations, so I am not in a position to comment on what the governor said," Ogina told this reporter.


Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on Thursday, March 26, announced that a 19-year-old student had tested positive for coronavirus.

Oparanya also disclosed that an MCA was among four people who had been asked to self-quarantine over fears that he had also been exposed to the virus. 

Following his announcement, the governor asked all county government staff to remain home for 15 days to curb the spread of the virus.

Health Chief Officer Beatrice Etemesi stated that the student had been isolated at the Mwihila Mission Hospital in Khwisero sub-county, Kakamega County. 

From left: Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Council of Governor chairman Wycliffe  Oparanya and Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba address the press in Nairobi on December 16, 2019.
From left: Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, Council of Governor chairman Wycliffe Oparanya and Trans Nzoia governor Patrick Khaemba address the press in Nairobi on December 16, 2019.

Citizen Digital was the first to report the governor announced that the student, who has since been confirmed to have been among the total of 28 cases reported as of on Wednesday, March 25, had also been carried by a Boda Boda rider on arrival to the county, who was also being quarantined.

The County boss added that the student's family members were also undergoing a medical check-up.

The president announced that three more Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases had been confirmed in the country, adding that one of the patients had made a full recovery.

Speaking during a press briefing at State House Nairobi, the president announced the good news and further revealed that numerous other cases had been found negative after testing.

On Thursday, March 26, Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi announced that there were three more confirmed cases, bringing the total number to 31.

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation regarding new measures by the government
President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the nation regarding new measures by the government to combat the Covid-19 virus, on March 25 at Statehouse, Nairobi.
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