Be ready for more unusual ways of life, warns Kagwe

The government is unapologetic for the way the body of a Covid-19 patient was disposed of in Siaya County even as 11 more cases of the disease were reported.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said his office was aware the burial raised concern and although the issue was being looked at, Kenyans should be prepared for more unusual ways of life.

“I want to be brutally honest that cultural practices on how we dispose of the body of our loved ones may not be practical during these times,” said Kagwe.

He said while the matter was being addressed by the ministry, bodies of patients who die of Covid-19 disease will be disposed in line with Public Health Act.

“Their bodies will be disposed of in a way that protects the living and in accordance with the burial protocols,” he said.

A video that went viral on social media showed the body of James Onyango, 59, a former employee of Kenya Ports Authority being buried at 2am. His body was delivered in a white body bag by a government vehicle and thrown into a shallow grave by two health officials wearing white protective suits

This was hours after his blood samples came back positive for Covid-19, but he was already dead after being admitted at a private facility with a cough.

He had come from Mombasa County, one of the high-risk areas for the disease.

Yesterday, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha, who accompanied the Health CS to the briefing, also weighed in on the matter.

Prof Magoha, a member of the National Emergency Response Committee tasked with Covid-19 mitigation strategies, said the main goal of the government was to ensure the disease is controlled.

“There is a very big risk of people leaning towards culture and forget that what was done was in order to protect the immediate family,” said Magoha.

So far, Kenya has reported 208 confirmed cases of Covid-19 after 11 more people tested positive. Additionally, while 15 more people have tested negative bringing the total of recoveries to 40, one more person has succumbed to the disease in Nairobi.

The death toll in the country now stands at nine.

Four of the 11 new cases are from those under mandatory quarantine while the rest are from contact tracing. All the 11 cases are Kenyans.

Four cases

Mandera reported four cases, followed by Mombasa with three, Nairobi reported two while Nakuru and Machakos both have one case each.

Kagwe said even as it may appear that the country was making progress in combating the virus considering the numbers were lower than what was projected, the war was far from over.

“If we let go, or ease off, then we can have a wave like we have never seen before. A little progress should not be construed to mean a large success,” he said.

Isiolo Governor Mohammed Kuti, who is the chairperson of Council of Governors Health Committee, said while progress has been witnessed in Nairobi in terms of adhering to the set directives, the case was different in rural areas. He described the situation as very worrying.

“There is a challenge in rural areas, especially in the markets where keeping social distance is a challenge,” said Mr Kuti.