Mukurwe-ini MP Anthony Kiai on Monday, November 16, narrated his near-death experience after contracting Covid-19.
Speaking to People Daily, Kiai said he was saved by the fast response of his doctors who noted that he was only thirty minutes away from death at the point of admission.
"The doctors told me that I had only 30 minutes of living had I not reached hospital on time. My organs were systematically failing due to carbon dioxide poisoning," he stated.
Kiai noted that he contracted the virus just days after running a marathon with friends. Days later, he complained of persistent pains in his chest to which he was rushed to the Karen Hospital.
Kiai pointed out that he received treatment and was soon after discharged. However, the pain persisted which prompted him to get tested for Covid-19 at the Aga Khan hospital. The test results turned positive.
“I was wheeled into triage and straight to ICU. My wife was detained for isolation (having come into contact with a Covid-19 patient). Our lives are very delicate. Things can go south very fast," he stated.
Kiai admitted that his political influence played a key role in him accessing the medical services. He, however, pondered how Kenyans cope with the expenses of the virus.
“This disease is there and it is here with us; when I was taken to hospital the facilities were full while others did not even have an ICU bed, I am glad that I was able to get a bed just because of who I am.
"The average costs of the tests range between Sh5,000 and Sh20,000. I kept on asking myself how many Kenyans can afford this money, " he wondered.
He attributed his recovery to a healthy regimen and no previous ailing conditions.
Kiai was lucky to have accessed medical care at a time when he needed it, with most Kenyans lacking the same opportunity due to poor healthcare infrastructure further strained by the Covid-19 pandemic.
His counterpart, the late Matungu Member of Parliament, Justus Murunga recently died after he collapsed at home only to be rushed to the nearby hospital which did not have supplemental oxygen that would have saved his life.
Murunga had breathing complications with unconfirmed reports indicating that his death as a result of Covid-19 complicated by diabetes and hypertension,
Both Kiai and Murunga are close allies Deputy President William Ruto and have actively participated in public rallies meant to mobilise the DP's so-called Hustler Movement.
Recently, a section of Ruto's allies attended the burial of Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara's mother who also succumbed to the virus.
The politicians, led by Ruto, advocated for Kenyans not to lower their guard in the fight against Covid-19.
