Resumption of sports in Kenya must be based on facts and science, not feelings – Health CS Mutahi Kagwe

CS Ministry of Health Mutahi Kagwe at his office on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has said that sporting activities in the country are unlikely to resume soon.

CS Kagwe, however, asked stakeholders on Wednesday to wait on the health experts’ verdict as Kenya continues to record more COVID-19 infections.

"There is a lot of pressure on the Government to open up the sports industry but such a decision must be led by facts and science, but not feelings," Kagwe pointed out.

CS Kagwe further hit out at athletes who do not observe COVID-19 containment measures putting their lives at risk.

"We know ourselves better. You will see some people instead of isolating themselves, you spot them in the sports areas contacting themselves.

“As much as we sympathise with our athletes, we have no choice other than to keep the containment measures at least until we come down to a level that is understandable,” said the Health CS.

According to the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, 21 patients succumbed to COVID-19 in Kenya in the last 24 hours.

The national caseload is now at 153,488 after 965 people tested positive for the deadly disease.

From the batch, 58 were foreigners and 907 were Kenyans. The figures also showed 560 of those who tested positive were men against 405 women.

Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Amina Mohamed, addresses members of WRC Safari Rally Kenya at Flamingo Beach Hotel in Mombasa. She said the Government through her Ministry will put more funds in motorsports. 24th October 2020. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

The youngest was a three-month-old infant while the oldest was aged 101.

Positive cases from the 7,311 sample size push the country’s positivity rate to 13.2 per cent. The cumulative tests are now 1,618,990.

Some 1,441 patients recovered, pushing the recoveries tally to 105,279. This comes as the total deaths now stand at 2,540.

There are 1,509 patients currently admitted with Covid-19 across the country.

According to the Health CS, some 750,471 Kenyans have been vaccinated to date, 146,091 of whom are healthcare workers.

President Uhuru’s suspended all sporting activities in the country last month due to the spread of coronavirus infections.

The suspension of sports from March has had a huge impact on the FKF Kenyan Premier League, the Kenya Cup, the Kenya Basketball League and the National Volleyball League which were all underway.