Leaders say Raila didn’t contract virus in the Coast

Coast politicians have maintained that ODM leader Raila Odinga (pictured) did not contract Covid-19 during his tour of the region.

The leaders yesterday made public their Covid-19 status after tests, and insisted that elaborate health measures were adhered to during Raila’s five-day tour of the region.

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo said they ensured microphones were sanitised when Raila addressed rallies in Kilifi County.

“If our party leader could have contracted the coronavirus in Coast, the situation could have turned bad within 24 hours. Raila felt sick several days after the Coast tour. We believe he contracted Covid-19 in Nairobi,” said Mr Madzayo, adding: “Raila did not contract the disease at the Coast. He held other meetings in Nairobi after the Coast tour.” 

Governors Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Hassan Joho (Mombasa) said their coronavirus tests indicated they were negative.

Political analyst and lawyer Abubakar Yusuf said Coast leaders feared the political implication of conspiracy theories on how the ODM leader contracted Covid-19 a fortnight ago.

“It is both a public health and political crisis. Coast leaders were over enthusiastic and careless during Raila’s tour. We saw them fighting to shake his hands or even hug him, and this then raises questions as to why Coast politicians are violating the Covid-19 protocols,” he said.

Yusuf explained that Coast leaders were fighting the perception that they were careless and that “they may have unknowingly exposed Raila to Covid-19 for their political expedience.”

“After the passage of the BBI Bill at the Coast, the ground has shifted from ‘No’ to ‘Yes’ and leaders who had decamped from Raila are trooping back, and want to be in good books with the ODM leadership,” he said.

Maimuna Mwidau, a human rights activist and political analyst, said the conspiracy theories and claims being advanced that Raila was infected at the Coast are partly a political propaganda.

“The leaders know the propaganda and claims that Raila was infected in Coast will affect their political mobilisation, socialisation and rallies,” she said, adding: “The leaders should not just announce to us the results. They should actually show us or even be tested publicly.”

Kwale Woman Representative Zuleikha Hassan said she interacted with Raila when he toured Samburu in Kinango Sub-county, Kwale, as he wound up his five-day tour of the Coast.

“I feel very healthy, but I have decided to go for the Covid-19 test because I hosted the party leader,” said Ms Hassan, who added that she contracted Covid-19 in October last year.

“I only lost taste and sense of smell. But I had to isolate myself. Today I’m going for the test again,” she said.

Former Msambweni MP Marere Wamwachai, who was also at the Samburu rally, said she would go for the Covid-19 test.

Halim Shauri of Pwani University said the rush for the Coast leaders to undertake the Covid-19 test was an indication that they had panicked because they did not observe the health protocols during rallies.

“Coast leaders’ sycophancy to show Raila that they love him may have exposed the ODM leader to danger. The question even villagers are asking themselves is; was all the hype necessary,” said Prof Shauri.

The ODM leader used his motorcade during the Coast tour, unlike in the past when he relied on the local governors for transport.

Kwale County ODM chair Hassan Mwanyoha also believes Raila contracted the viral disease after the Coast tour.

“I have not gone for Covid-19 test so far, but I strongly believe the party leader could have contracted Covid-19 after the Coast tour,” Mr Mwanyoha argued.

Joho and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko tested for Covid-19 before traveling to Zanzibar and Dubai respectively.

The county’s chief of staff Joab Tumbo said Joho took the test a day after the ODM rallies, as he was scheduled to travel to Zanzibar for a working tour.

“Governor Joho was tested on Thursday when he jetted back from Zanzibar again. It turned out negative,” said Mr Tumbo.

Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir said he goes for Covid-19 tests regularly and that most Mombasa leaders who were close to Raila had tested negative.

Voi MP Jones Mlolwa said he was tested in Nairobi and the result turned negative.