Good morning fellow Kenyans,
Today we start the final week of April which the ministry of Health officials had indicated would be critical in the fight against the deadly COVID-19. Most notably, the Director-General of Health Dr. Patrick Amoth had predicted that the country would have at least 10,000 positive cases by the end of the month.
Currently at 355, it’s safe to say this number is unattainable in four days. Lack of mass testing as promised by the government could be the main reason for this glaring discrepancy.
However, the apparent crisis at the country’s largest testing facility, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), should not be washed away. CS Mutahi Kagwe reportedly fired the institution’s Centre for Virus research director Dr Joel Lutomiah for raising budgetary issues and failing to release COVID-19 results on time.
Lutomiah’s colleagues, while criticizing CS Kagwe for his wrongful termination, revealed that the situation at the facility was so dire that they had only received gumboots despite asking for adequate protective gear. The researchers argued that the government had neglected the institute despite the pressure meted out to them to deliver quick and timely results.
This begs the question: Will the country meet its objective of mass testing if the researchers at Kenya’s largest research facility feel financially starved?
We can now only hope that we have avoided a full-blown crisis that would be catastrophic for a country like Kenya with a very weak healthcare system.
Here are top stories making headlines today:
Angry Boda Boda Riders Torch Govt Property [VIDEO]
A group of boda boda riders from Misikhu, Bungoma County on Sunday, April 26 stormed the home of an Assistant Chief in Magemo area of Webuye, Bungoma County and torched government property including two motorbikes and a tractor.
The boda boda riders were protesting the death of their colleague who allegedly died in controversial circumstances after being arrested.
Jubilee Hurdles in Uhuru’s Coalition Dream with Raila
A key provision in the Jubilee constitution denies President Uhuru Kenyatta sweeping powers to unilaterally enter into a coalition or merger with opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM party.
Instead, the Jubilee Party constitution gives the National Executive Committee the ultimate authority to sanction any pre-election coalition or a merger with other political parties.
DP Ruto Takes The Altar in Church Service at His Home [PHOTOS]
Deputy President William Ruto held a church service inside his home following the government’s crackdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In a post he shared on Facebook, the DP is seen relishing the moment in the company of six of his closely-knit family.
Education CS George Magoha on Sunday announced that the schools would be closed for another month taking the new opening dates to tentatively the first week of June. Magoha, however, said that the government had not yet decided on postponing the national exams slated for October and November. Do you think it would be fair for this year’s candidates if the exams were to be done as scheduled?