Raila Tests Positive for Covid-19

An image of Raila
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga speaking at a service in St. Joachim and Anne Catholic Church, Kayole on Sunday 17 January 2021.
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ODM leader Raila Odinga has tested positive for Covid-19. His doctor, David Oluoch Olunya, on Thursday, March 11, confirmed. 

Raila was admitted to the Nairobi Hospital on Tuesday, March 9 after complaining of body ache and fatigue

"We have confirmed that Raila Odinga has SARS-2 COVID19. He is responding well to the treatment at the Nairobi Hospital and remains upbeat. We are continuing to monitor his progress," Dr. Oluoch said.

Raila also released a statement saying that he authorised his doctors to make public his health status but added that he is in good shape and will undertake mandatory quarantine. 

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ODM leader Raila Odinga addresses a gathering at Githurai 45 on January 27, 2021
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"I take this opportunity to thank the medical personnel for days of very meticulous work they have done to arrive at the diagnosis. 

"I received a briefing from my doctors who have conducted numerous and complicated tests on me for the last two days to arrive at an accurate diagnosis of my health," the former Prime Minister said. 

Raila cautioned Kenyans against lowering their guard in the fight against Covid-19, urging everyone to adhere to the set protocols and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health. 

On Wednesday, March 10, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe warned that Kenya is officially in its third wave of the Covid-19 outbreak and that the new numbers are alarming.

"The sheer number itself tells you the whole story. The positivity rate that we are announcing at around 14 percent is also the highest since the last phase in November 2020," Kagwe said.  

President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to review Covid-19 reinforcement measures on Friday, March 12. The head of state had on January 3, extended the nationwide night curfew to March 12. 

Kenya received its first batch of Astra Zeneca Vaccine (1.25 million doses) on March 2, 2021, with Health Director-General Patrick Amoth the first to be injected, three days later.

Kagwe, on Thursday 11, also received 100,000 more doses of AstraZeneca vaccines donated by the government of India.

So far, frontline workers, police, doctors and teachers have been given priority, with politicians still coy on taking the vaccine. Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana became the first politician and governor in Kenya to take the Covid-19 vaccine.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said that he would take the vaccine at his own time, under the directive of his doctors and without public pressure. 

As of Thursday, March 11, Kenya had recorded 111,185 positive cases, 1,899 fatalities and 87,994 recoveries.

 

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