Raila Odinga tests positive for Covid-19

 Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has tested positive for Covid-19.

In a statement Thursday, Raila has told Kenyans that Covid-19 is real and urged them to observe all the stipulated measures. 

“This evening, I received a briefing from the doctors who have conducted numerous and complicated tests on me for the last two days... While the tests were several, one important result, which I have authorized the doctors to make public is that I have been found to have been exposed to Covid-19,” he wrote.

He added: “Despite the fact that I feel strong and in good shape after a few days in hospital, I have agreed with my doctors to undertake the mandatory quarantine.”

A statement by Nairobi Hospital’s Dr David Olunya has also confirmed that the former premier has the SARS-CoV-2.

“He is responding well to the treatment he is receiving at the Nairobi Hospital and remains upbeat,” his personal doctor said.

Earlier, Raila had thanked Kenyans for their overwhelming support saying that he was recuperating well.

“Wakenya wenzangu, Thank you for the overwhelming messages of goodwill. I’m feeling much, much, better now and following doctors’ orders. Asanteni!” he tweeted. 

Yesterday, Raila’s personal doctor Oluoch Olunya, in a statement, said he checked himself at the Nairobi Hospital in for a routine check-up.

“Raila needed to have some check-up. He is still undergoing further investigations with a team of doctors and has been advised to take a rest,” said Dr Olunya, a consultant neurosurgeon.

He added: “We are continuing to monitor his condition and no doubt he will be able to address the country in due course. He is in good spirits.”

The doctor’s statement put to rest speculation about Raila’s health after he was not seen in public on Tuesday, to commemorate the third anniversary of the Handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“Raila walked in for routine medical tests at the Nairobi Hospital on March 9 after feeling some fatigue. He has had a rigorous campaign and needed to have some check-up,” explained Dr Olunya.

Raila’s elder brother Oburu Odinga and his personal assistant Dennis Onyango said he was out of danger.

Oburu said that Raila had complained of fatigue and joints pain before he sought treatment.

“Raila is indisposed from fatigue and having some joint pains, there is nothing serious. The medical tests have been done, the Covid-19 test result has not come out,” he said.

He added, “There was no sign of it because we were together. He has no signs of cough or others. We noticed he did not have pains in the chest, it is general joints pains and fatigue.”

Mr Onyango said the ODM leader was admitted to the hospital for further check-up.

In the latest update Thursday evening the Ministry of Health reported that 

Kenya had registered 829 new cases of Covid-19 cases as the country stares at a third wave of Covid-19 pandemic.

The new cases were from a sample size of 6,239 tested in the past 24 hours, a testing positivity rate of 13.2 per cent.

The country’s caseload now stands at 111,185 out of 1,352,126 tests conducted since March last year when the first case was registered.