My father died of COVID-19: Ciru Muriuki's message to complacent Kenyans

By Standard Entertainment | 4yrs ago | 2 min read

**Ciru had to mourn the loss of her father alone as she’d also contacted the virus.**

Journalist Angela Wanjiru wa Muriuki alias Ciru Muriuki has narrated how an interaction with a petrol station attendant broke her. According to the BBC journalist, the petrol attendant dismissed COVID-19 as fake, saying that it’s a cash cow for corrupt individuals to get donor funds. Warning Kenyans of complacency against the potentially deadly virus, Ciru revealed that she’d lost he father to coronavirus. To add salt to injury, she had to mourn the loss alone as she’d also contacted the virus. Via a Twitter thread, Ciru said that while the African continent takes pride in the low death rate from COVID-19, some families are mourning the loss of loved ones struck down by the virus.

“This weekend while at a petrol station, I struck up a conversation with the attendant, who proceeded to tell me that COVID-19 is fake, a ploy to get donor funds. That broke me, because my father died of COVID-19. I also contracted the virus and had to mourn my dad in almost complete solitude. I cannot think of anything worse.

“So as we talk about how the virus has a low death rate, or how it isn't that serious, or how Africa has been "spared", remember that people have lost loved ones to this. It has taken the person I loved the most. We are in agony. This thing is real. Complacency is our worst enemy,” Ciru tweeted.

Six weeks ago, the broadcast journalist had paid tribute her father writing, “I will love you forever dad. The rest of my life will be spent longing to see you again, my most honoured, most beloved, most cherished father.”

Reactions

Kenyans flooded Ciru’s comments section to condole with her following her recent revelations:

Sorry for your loss but this goes to show how much distrust we have with the govt
— Kæleb (@pKosgeii) October 2, 2020

You are loved. Prayed for you and your family.
— tina nzuki???????? (@tinanzuki) October 2, 2020

My condolences for your loss. I'm sorry about the continuing trauma you're having to endure in the midst of insensitivity, ignorance and skewed information circulating all around. Pole sana.
— edutitrA@ (@Art1tud3) October 2, 2020

People here talk a lot of mess, simply because of IGNORANCE. Sorry about the loss of your dad, he sired a smart chic. ????????
— Benji Ndolo (@BenjiNdolo) October 2, 2020

Sorry for your loss and the difficult period you went through grieving and in isolation. I wish those responsible for looting at KEMSA and Afya house, understood the scepticism and doubt towards covid risks caused in the minds of Kenyans by their actions.
— GiGi (@GGAP) October 2, 2020