MCAs, staff sent on leave over infection

Uasin Gishu recorded 74 Covid-19 positive cases on Saturday, the highest number in recent months, sparking fears of a surge.

Uasin Gishu County Assembly members have been sent on compulsory leave over Covid-19 fears.

The 46 MCAs and tens of staffers have been directed to proceed on a 21-day leave after it emerged that Huruma Ward MCA Peter Chomba, who collapsed and died 10 days ago, had posthumously tested positive for coronavirus.

Chomba died at an Eldoret hospital and will be buried on Wednesday.

Yesterday, assembly clerk Shadrack Choge, in an internal memo, asked all MCAs and staff to proceed on leave from today to November 6.

“This is to inform you that it has been decided by management to grant everyone compulsory leave of 21 days starting Monday, October 19 to November 6 following the demise of Hon Peter Chomba,” the memo signed by the clerk read in part. 

Uasin Gishu recorded 74 Covid-19 positive cases on Saturday, the highest number in recent months, sparking fears of a surge.

Speaker David Kiplagat said testing of all MCAs and staff has commenced following the release of Chomba’s postmortem examination report.

Kiplagat said the assembly will remain closed for the entire period, during which time all MCAs and staff will be in self-quarantine.

“We wish to inform residents of Uasin Gishu and the public that we have received the official results of a postmortem that was conducted on the deceased from the family, which confirmed that the cause of death was Covid-19,” the speaker said.

Kiplagat, however, did not disclose the results of the Covid-19 tests carried out on the MCAs and staffers.

But sources said a number of MCAs and staff tested positive and have been put under home care.

In Nandi, eight staff in the county procurement department tested Covid-19 positive, crippling operations in the county.

Health Executive Ruth Koech said 'a second wave' of the pandemic in the county has prompted enforcement of the preventive measures in public offices and social gatherings.

“The members of staff who tested positive were checked and it was found they are asymptomatic. They have been advised to take home-based care and so far they are stable,” said Koech.

The county has temporarily closed the offices and launched fumigation on the second floor where the finance, governor and the deputy's offices are while members of the public seeking services have been locked out.

At the same time, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, the largest coronavirus testing centre in parts of Rift Valley and Western, issued a warning of a possible surge in numbers as more Kenyans lower their guard.

Hospital Chief Executive Officer Wilson Aruasa attributed the rising cases to failure to observe preventive measures issued by the ministry.