Homa Bay County faces closure over Covid-19 infections

Homa Bay County government will suspend its operations tomorrow due to increased Covid-19 infections.

This comes after the demise of the county Communication Director and veteran journalist Maurice Juma Aluoch, who succumbed to Covid-19 related complications on Monday evening.

Governor Cyprian Awiti told journalists on Tuesday that the offices will be closed for two weeks to allow fumigation.

The governor said six people had tested positive for the virus in the executive wing of the county government.

“We are shutting down operations of the county government for two weeks from Wednesday. This will pave way for fumigation and other routine measures for preventing the spread of coronavirus,” Awiti said.

 The governor urged residents of Homa Bay County to adhere to health protocols for preventing Covid-19.

He stressed on social distancing, putting on faces masks and hand-washing as key protocols which should be adhered to by residents.

“I want residents to adhere to health protocols laid down by the government to help prevent this virus,” Awiti said.

Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata said the disease was already in the community.

“Coronavirus is spreading in the county. Let our people be cautious wherever they are,” Orata said.

Homa Bay currently has 152 cases of Covid-19. The county assembly has also been shut over Covid-19 infections.

Meanwhile, grief engulfed Nyanza region over the death of Aluoch who was a veteran journalist.

Leaders led by Governor Awiti, his deputy Orata, former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and former Karachuonyo MP James Rege.

Awiti described Aluoch a journalist who was honest.

“I knew Aluoch and we were friends even before I became a governor. He was working for the Kenya Times newspaper by then. I was attracted to him by his honesty,” said Awiti.

The governor described Aluoch as a journalist who had interpersonal skills.

“He knew how to interact with his fellow journalists and that attribute enabled him to achieve a number of objectives both when he was practising journalism and when he was in my office,” Awiti said.

Rege described Aluoch as a competent journalist who covered news event in the South Nyanza region effectively.

“He was a dedicated journalist and may the Lord rest his soul in eternal peace,” said Rege.

Kidero described Aluoch as someone with whom he co-operated since childhood. He is the one who welcomed Aluoch when he joined to form one at Agoro Sare Boys Secondary school.

Tributes poured in the newsroom yesterday from a battery of journalists including those who worked with Aluoch during his tenure as a practising journalist.

They included veteran journalist John Oywa who is also the acting Chief of Staff in Kisumu County Government, Independent Journalist Samuel Owida, former Standard Group journalist Jack Nduri, Philip Osewe of Dala FM, Dan Oduor of Mayienga FM.

They described Aluoch as a dependable colleague.