Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Saturday narrated an incident where a group of Kenyans violated movement restrictions by travelling from Nairobi to Homa Bay, only for the driver of the vehicle to later test positive for Covid-19.
CS Kagwe, speaking while addressing the press at Afya House, said the individuals duped police officers manning roadblocks that they were headed to a funeral and even had a coffin aboard the vehicle.
According to the CS, law enforcement officers in Homa Bay, however, opened the casket only to find it empty and immediately placed the group under quarantine.
“The governor of Homa Bay informed me of a group of people who travelled from Nairobi in a private vehicle pretending that they were attending a funeral, fully equipped with an empty coffin. Those people travelled all the way from Nairobi to Homa Bay during this period when we have stopped moving,” he said.
“Thanks to the Homa Bay administration, somebody got suspicious and opened the coffin (and found it empty). They were immediately put in quarantine and today, I can confirm, that the driver is positive. This person has now taken the disease to Homa Bay for very selfish reasons.”
He hence urged Kenyans to abide by the government directives and become disciplined, stating that – unless we do so – “this disease will finish us.”
He further warned lorry and matatu drivers from smuggling people in and out of the restricted zones, adding that those found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
“We have also noted that there are people who are not complying with the movement restrictions in and out of counties, and even from neighbouring countries. On this I want to caution truck drivers who I’m informed are smuggling people from one restricted area to another,” said the CS.
“I want to tell such irresponsible persons that they are rolling back our efforts to fight the disease; the enforcement agencies are there to deal with these issues, not to become participant in it.”