UPDATE: November 4: Former Nairobi County official Robert Ayisi has succumbed to Covid-19 complications, his family confirmed on Thursday morning.
Dr. Ayisi was previously admitted at the Mater Hospital in Nairobi for treatment.
The deceased served as Nairobi County Secretary during former Governor Evans Kidero’s tenure at City Hall, where he replaced Lilian Ndegwa who had been sacked following corruption allegations
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was on Monday forced to retract his message of condolence after falling prey to a hoax death announcement on the former Health CEC.
Governor Sonko deleted the posts on his social media after news emerged that the doctor had not passed on, but was fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a source close to Sonko stated that the governor had relied on unverified information from a journalist to make the announcement.
He added that Sonko had gotten in touch with Dr. Ayisi's family which clarified that the doctor was still alive and in the ICU.
The misleading reports spread far and wide as politicians such as former Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke mourned Ayisi, but later pulled down the post.
The health professional joined the county government during former Governor Evans Kidero's administration and also served during the first year of Sonko's term.
The doctor was a key resource who helped in streamlining the health sector in Nairobi County.
Dr. Ayisi also served as the Nairobi County Secretary after Lillian Ndegwa was dismissed.
He is believed to have an underlying health condition which was the cause of his resignation from the county government.
As Covid-19 cases spike, health workers in Nairobi have threatened to strike over the increase in Covid-19 deaths among healthcare professionals.
Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary-General Seth Panyako announced on November 1 that representatives of health workers would meet in Nairobi to discuss the concerns.
The union has called upon the government to declare Covid-19 a deadly occupational hazard so that heath officers who contract it receive adequate compensation in the event they die.
So far thousands of medics have contracted the virus since the pandemic hit the country in March 2020.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe confirmed that Kenya was experiencing a second wave Covid-19 infections after strict measures were relaxed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in September.
Speaking at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on November 1, the Head of State confirmed that he was concerned about the recent spike in positive cases.
He noted that the National Emergency Response Committee (NERC) was considering a raft of measures to contain the spike.
