Kenya has confirmed16 new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 336.

Eleven of the new cases were in Nairobi and the remaining five in Mombasa. All were picked from the community. The number of fatalities remains 14.

Five people have been discharged bringing the total number of recoveries to 96 people.

While giving daily briefings from Afya House on Friday afternoon, Health CAS Rashid Aman said that the new cases were confirmed afte testing 946 samples.

The samples were picked from across 12 counties.

“We have tested 946 samples across 12 counties and from this, 16 persons have tested positive for coronavirus. We now have 336 confirmed cases in the country. 11 from Nairobi and five from Mombasa. The number of fatalities remain 14,” he said.

CAS Aman further urged Kenyans and leaders not to disobey directives put by the government to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, citing that this is not the right time to pull back.

“Whereas we have registered significant gains, we have noted a degree of complacency slowly creeping back. We urge Kenyans and leaders not to disobey the orders. While we know that the courts serve an important function, this is not the time to pull back,” he said.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga and his wife Ida Odinga on Thursday afternoon took donations worth Ksh. 15 million to Kibra residents.

The donations are to help the Kibra residents at this hard economic times that have been caused by the effects of corionavirus pandemic.

A statement sent to newsrooms by Raila’s Communication Director Dennis Onyango indicated that the former premier was to make the donations through the Government of Kenya, to help alleviate the challenges faced by the community as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The supplies have been mobilised by Mr Odinga’s family from own savings, corporates and individual friends.

They include food, sanitizers, soap, oil and water all valued at Ksh15 million.

“H.E Raila Odinga and Mama Ida Odinga will shortly donate an assortment of supplies to the residents of Kibra, through the Government of Kenya, to help alleviate the challenges faced by the community as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The supplies have been mobilised by the family from own savings, corporates and individual friends. They include food, sanitizers, soap, oil and water all valued at Ksh15 million,” reads part of the statement from Dennis Onyango.

Among the donors that partnered with the Odingas in making the donations are Kenya Pipeline Ltd, Bidco, Tononoka Steels Ltd, KAPU Africa, Kapa Oil and business mogul Jimmy Wanjigi.

To comply with the need for Social Distancing, the supplies were delivered to the offices of Deputy County Commissioner in Kibra.

The office will organise and coordinate the distribution of the supplies to the residents.

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A security officer attached to one of the Cabinet Secretaries, and two Kenya Defence Forces were on Sunday night arrested when police raided a bar during dusk to dawn curfew.

They are among other 12 people that were arrested on Sunday night at a bar located along Kangundo road;

A Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detective was also arrested along the other three officers.

The officers were taken to Buru Buru Police Station and were also accused of being drunk and disorderly.

The two Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers are both rank of Warrant officers.

The Ministry of Health in its daily press briefings has reiterated the need for Kenyans to adhere to the government directives on the Covid-19.

Appearing at the press conference on Sunday, April 5, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia put matatu and boda boda operators on notice, warning  that they would face severe consequences if they failed to observe measures on safety and hygiene.

Macharia stated that matatu operators found contravening the directives will be arrested, charged and have their SACCO licences revoked, in addition to having their vehicles impounded.

Boda boda riders, required to wear masks and carry only one passenger in addition to observing sanitation measures, were threatened with similar actions.

“We have observed that the set directives are not being strictly followed, for example, most matatus are still overloading, hence not observing social distancing. They are also not observing standards of hygiene as per the set guidelines,”

“This directive applies to all public transport vehicles and the offenders will be charged in a court of law in line with the Public Health Act, for deliberately spreading the virus,” he stated.

As of Sunday, April 5, Kenya had a total of 142 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with four recoveries and four deaths.

The cases are so far spread across seven counties, with the government urging Kenyans to strictly adhere to measures meant to ensure physical distancing to curb its spread.

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The coronavirus pandemic has continued to cause economic pain, as hotel industry has resorted to closure after the business went down.

Latest to announce closure is the famous Dusit D2 Hotel, which has rendered at least 250 Kenyans jobless after the hotel’s management gave notice of closure.

The hotel stopped operations owing to the government’s social distancing directive and the travel restrictions.

The suspension of international flights has also contributed to the closure of hotels.

A government directive forcing bars and nightclubs to remain closed as a way of stemming the spread of COVID-19 has also seen the occupancy rate in hotels go down significantly.

Villa Rosa, Ole Sereni and Tribe Hotel have scaled down operations.

“In light of the evolving Covid-19 situation, some of the hotel’s restaurants will be closed and some facilities may have limited service.” said Villa Rosa Kempinski to its guests.

Deputy President William Ruto’s Weston Hotel will be closed starting March 30 until further notice.

“We wish to assure you that The Weston Hotel is committed to optimizing care and precautions to minimize the spread of the Covid-19,” the statement read in part.

So far Kenya has confirmed 31 cases of coronavirus, one fatality and a recovery.

According to the Ministry of Health, 2 patients are currently admitted in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Agha Khan Hospital.

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Barely two days after Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed eight more COVID-19 cases in Kenya, Photos of Siaya priest identified as Father Richard Onyango Oduor, who was part of the eight cases have emerged.

The Rome-based priest jetted into the country on March 11, and conducted a mass at Holy Family Catholic church in Nairobi’s Utawala area. He spent a night in the city.

He then traveled in an Easy Coach bus to Ugunja, Siaya county where he led a mass during the burial of a close relative on March 14.

He came to Kenya from Rome through South Africa.

Father Richard Oduor tested positive for Covid -19 on March 22 and now the government is tracing people he came into contact with. Kenya has so far reported 16 cases.

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The suspended whistle blower of the China Southern plane that landed at JKIA on Wednesday morning is living in fear after he apparently received word that he might be getting followed.

Gire Ali, who was suspended by Kenya Airways on February 27, 2020 after being accused of participating in recording and sharing of the video, showing 239 passengers aboard the China plane being ushered in, says his life is now in danger.

“They have been calling and I’m yet to go and meet the team because someone warned me that my life might be in danger and that they were watching me. I handed over my work identification documents through the fence and left. I fear about what could happen to me,” Gire is quoted by a local daily.

He also intimated that the employees had earlier on in the month asked for protective gear but never heard from management.

“We’re required to maintain security presence on this flight as long as it is on the ground. Our staff are badly exposed since we do not have protective gear while discharging our duties. We kindly request that similar masks be provided to our staff working on this flight,” a letter dated February 2 read in part.

So far, China Southern Airlines has suspended flights to Kenya.

A high court also ordered that the 239 passengers be quarantined at a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) facility.

In Africa, three coronavirus cases have been confirmed. They are in Nigeria, Algeria and Egypt.

While being relieved of duties, Gire was accused of going against company policy and exposing poor management of passengers coming from the Coronavirus infested nation.

“It has been determined that you be suspended from duty with effect from 27th February 2020 in accordance with provision of clause 16.5 of the Company HR Policy,” a letter signed by chief human resources officer Evelyne Munyoki read in part.

KQ’s actions angered netizens who thought Gire’s actions were heroic.

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Former Kakamega County senator Boni Khalwale on Friday tore into Kenya Airways for suspending one of their staffs who blew the whistle about a Chinese plane that landed at JKIA with 239 passengers from China.

On Wednesday, Kenyan authorities allowed the plane to land in the country despite of the corona virus fears.

Kenya Airways was pissed off with the rate at which the video showing the Chinese Southern Airline landing at JKIA spread on social media.

As a result, Gire Ali, their staff who is alleged to have recorded and spread the video was suspended with effect from February 27, 2020.

“Following a report of video of China Southern flights arrival at JKIA and circulation of the video clip widely on social media and your alleged involvement in the matter, it has been decided that you be suspended from duty with effect from Feb 27,” KQ Chief human resource Evelyne Munyoki said in a letter dated February 27, 2020.

According to Munyoki, the suspension is in line with the company policies.

“This is to pave way for further investigations into the matter. During the period of suspension, you will be required to avail yourself to the investigating team,” Munyoki said.

But Khalwale the bullfighter in a quick response to the suspension has termed the decision as a wisdom of fools.

Khalwale says that Mr Gire Ali is just a mere whistle blower and does not deserve the suspension.

He has termed Mr Gire as a hero to Kenyans.

“Suspend Mr Gire Ali? He is a mere whistle blower. Now our hero. Kenya Airways, yours is wisdom of fools,” Khalwale tweeted.

Gire alerted Kenyans of a China plane that had landed at JKIA with authorities silently ushering in the 239 passengers by only advising them to quarantine themselves for 14 days.

So far, 17 suspect cases have been recorded in the country and all have tested negative.

On Thursday, a section of MPs demanded that all the Chinese airlines be suspended from landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Led by Minority leader John Mbadi the MPs said it was a careless move for those responsible to have cleared a China Southern Airline plane on Kenyan soil despite the scare of the coronavirus outbreak.

Mbadi said it was laughable that the Health ministry cleared all the 239 passengers and asked them to ‘self-quarantine’ without proper monitoring mechanisms.

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Kenya Airways has suspended one if their staffs who recorded the arrival of a Chinese Southern Airline loaded with 239 passengers from China.

The video went viral o social media, triggering an uproar from concerned Kenyans.

Jumping into action, KQ decided to suspend the whistle blower with immediate effect, citing that the matter was under investigations.

In a letter dated February 27, 2020, Gire Ali, the suspended staff is ordered to go on a suspension with effect from February 27, 2020.

During the suspension period, the staff is required to avail himself to the said investigating team, his manager or any other person in authority.

The Kenyan government on Wednesday allowed 239 Chinese to land at JKIA amid Corona Virus fears, triggering an immediate uproar.

Angry legislators confronted Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo to explain what informed what they termed as a reckless’ move to allow in the Chinese plane.

The National Assembly’s departmental committee on Defense and Foreign Relations wondered why Kenya is out “to pamper China” even at the point of endangering the lives of its own citizens.

The situation got worse when the CS tried to inform the committee that the decision to allow the Chinese into the country was done in the best interest of the country.

“The aeroplane did not originate from Wuhan because Wuhan has been under lockdown and people quarantined and no aeroplane goes there. The passengers were cleared under the guidelines of World Health Organization..The decision was made in the best interest of the country,” Omamo said.

The CAS in a media conference later in the day said the Chinese arriving in Kenya are not from Wuhan, the city where the corona virus outbreak began. 

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