DPP Haji Responds to 200 Staff Testing Positive For Covid-19

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji addresses a press conference at his office in Upperhill, Nairobi on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji addresses a press conference at his office in Upperhill, Nairobi on Thursday, March 5, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
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Kenyans.co.ke

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji, on Thursday, August 6, responded to reports that 200 prosecutors had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

Speaking exclusively to Kenyans.co.ke, the DPP disclosed that the number of individuals who tested positive for the virus was far lower than 200.

He further explained that the cases, which included police officers and sweepers attached to the institution, had came about as a result of mass testing that was undertaken on Thursday, July 30, 2020.

"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions embarked on organization wide testing. The results so far reveal that some of our staff are asymptomatic carriers and in conformity with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, we shall be moving to the next phase of tracing and treating the affected in liaison with the Ministry of Health," read the statement signed by DPP Haji in part.

A medical personnel holding a Covid-19 virus test kit.
File image of a Covid-19 testing kit.
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He also noted that the affected individuals were advised to self-isolate in line with measures issued by the Ministry of Health to help curb the spread of the virus.

"The affected officers have been advised to self-isolate by competent medical officers and those who are unable to self-isolate for whatever reasons have been given the option of being quarantined at centers of their choice. We are also in the process of preparing an isolation Centre at the Prosecutors Training Institute for those who may choose self-isolation away from their homes.

"In solidarity all staff members have committed to a set of shared health and safety principles with dealing with suspected, presumed or confirmed COVID-19 amongst us and in addition to the safety principles, we have committed to working together to share information, address the challenges and work collaboratively towards solutions that keep us all safe," the statement added.

Haji also confirmed that the office regularly supplied members of staff with Personal Protective Equipments, sanitizers as well as Vitamin C supplements in order to protect them from any infections.

A report by People Daily had indicated that at least 200 prosecutors at the institution had tested positive for the virus and that the office had been forced to scale down its operations.

"99% are just asymptomatic and if anyone becomes serious, they shall receive the medical attention they deserve," a senior administrative secretary at the ODPP told this writer.

The Judiciary as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Public Service Commission have previously sent staff members on self-isolation after cases of Covid-19 were reported.

The Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau, in an interview on Wednesday, August 6, revealed that he had passed out one morning of the second week after he contracted the virus.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau April 14, 2020.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau April 14, 2020.
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