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Nurses Expose The Cartel Controlling Ministry of Health, Threaten to Down Tools

by Pauline Waswa
written by Pauline Waswa

A crisis is looming in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic as 30,000 health workers threaten to down tools. They have issued a 14-day strike notice, threatening to go on strike come May 18, 2020.

According to the nurses,the Ministry of Health is controlled by a cartel of doctors who are responsible for the current mess in healthcare. 

They accuse the government of favoring doctors and failing to grant the other cadres proper risk allowance, promotion and employing them on contract. 

The workers who issued the 14-day strike notice in Nairobi on Monday May 4 include nurses, clinicial officers, laboratory staff and nutritionists.

Others are non-unionised staff under the Kenya Health Professionals Society  including mortuary staff. 

They belong to the Kenya National Union of Nurses, Kenya Union of Clinical Officers and the Kenya National Union of Laboratory Officers, Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists, the Kenya Union of Nutritionists and Dietitians and the Kenya Health Professionals Society.

KUCO secretary general George Gibore said while doctors receive a minimum Sh20,000 risk allowance every month, other health workers receive nothing. Only nurses and clinicians get about Sh3,000.

Gibore said clinicians and nurses have the most contact with patients and therefore bear the greatest risk. 

He said 12 clinical officers have been infected with coronavirus at work while 147 are currently quarantined after being exposed to the virus. 

According to Mohamed Duba, chairman Kenya Union of Health Professionals, they have tried diplomatic means but have failed to get an audience with the government.

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Lifestyle

Distribution of Kenya’s 25 New Covid-19 Cases as Per Estates, Tally at 490

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kenya has recorded 25 new coronavirus cases, raising the total number to 490.

Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi on Monday May 4 said 15 of the new cases are from Nairobi, while 10 are from Mombasa.

Of the new cases, eight are from Eastleigh, two from Kawangware, 10 from Kariobangi South and two from Umoja.

“All the 25 are Kenyans and none has a history of travel,” she said adding that a total of 1,012 samples were tested in the last 24 hours.

The youngest new case is six months, while the oldest is 60 years. Thirteen are male, while 12 are female.

“We are working with different health experts when handling Covid-19 cases. For children who are positive we we are collaborating with pediatricians,” she said.

Mwangangi said the situation has not gone back to normal and told Kenyans to be responsible.

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Crime & InvestigationsLatest News

Here’s Where Curfew Breakers Will Now be Held After Arrest

by Brian Kiprono
written by Brian Kiprono

Curfew breakers will no longer be accommodated at the usual government quarantine facilities.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman on Sunday May 3, 2020 while giving the daily Covid-19 briefings at Afya House said that those arrested defying curfew while now be taken to different centres, that meet social distancing rule.

CAS Aman said that the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai had been directed to designate a curfew breakers’ holding place, to avoid putting the curfew breakers together with those that have been quarantined after showing the signs of Covid-19.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe had earlier announced that those found defying curfew are assumed to have been exposed, thus the need to get quarantined.

CAS Aman’s announced on directing IG Mutyambai to designate a holding place for curfew breakers comes after an outcry from Kenyans.

Kenyans had earlier on caused an uproar, decrying the poor conditions that curfew breakers normally get exposed to.

Speculations have it that those arrested are normally kept in the same rooms with suspected Covid-19 patients, without even considering the social distancing rules.

Those arrested are however, expected to cater for their own accommodation bills, after completing the 14 days of quarantine, and completing the two mandatory Covid-19 tests.

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Bungoma Registers First Covid-19 Cases as Kenya’s Numbers Soar to 465

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kenya has confirmed a highest number of coronavirus cases in a single day.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rashid Aman on Sunday May 3, 2020 while giving the daily Covid-19 briefing at Afya House confirmed 30 new cases.

The CAS said that the cases came from the mass Covid-19 testings that kicked off in Nairobi’s Kawangware area, Eastleigh area and Mombasa.

CAS Aman said that out of the 30 new Covid-19 cases recorded today, 19 are from Mombasa, eight from Nairobi, two from Bungoma and one from Kitui County.

Bungoma has now joined the 16 Counties that have so far registered Covid-19 cases. The new cases are truck drivers.

Two more Covid-19 patients have also died, bringing the total number of fatalities to 24.

However, CAS Aman announced 15 more recoveries.

The CAS further urged Kenyans in the targeted high risk areas to come out and show up for mass testing to help contain COVID-19.

He has said that the testing is free and Kenyans should take advantage of this since in other counties people are unable to be tested as much as they would like to.

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Politics

VIDEO: Moha Jicho Pevu Tears Into Joho Over ‘Forced’ Covid-19 Testing in Mombasa

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Nyali constituency MP Mohamed Ali has clashed with governor Hassan Ali Joho over the mass testing for Covid-19 that kicked off in Mombasa on Saturday May 2, 2020.

A section of the residents of Mombasa boycotted the exercise, forcing governor Joho to lose temper on them.

Joho scolded the residents of Old Town for what he termed as evading coronavirus tests.

The furious governor expressed his disappointment that residents failed to avail themselves for the mass testing which the county had rolled to ascertain the spread of the deadly virus.

He further stated that once the residents will once more not avail themselves for the testing, they will be locked up in their houses.

Responding to Joho’s outburst on the Saturday night, the vocal journalist-turned politician opposed Joho’s words pointing out that it was not wise for the governor to ‘threaten’ the residents.

He went on to state that as coastal leaders, they ought to come up with a strategy to support the residents. Some of which he mentioned were; allowing health professionals to do their work and also giving scientists humble time to investigate the condition and offer advisory measures.

He further disclosed that most of the residents are reluctant in going for the tests since once confirmed positive, they are informed that quarantine and treatment costs are at their own costs.

He called off the governor for setting aside Ksh 700 Million shillings for fighting the pandemic.

He questioned the move on when parliament discussed such amounts and also went on to ask if the money is there, why are the residents forced to pay for the services.

He also opposed Joho’s idea on calling for a lock down in the county due to increase in number of the confirmed positive cases

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Kawangware Now a Hot Spot as Kenya’s Tally Soars to 435

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kawangware area, in Nairobi, is now becoming a Covid-19 hot spot.

Kenya on Saturday afternoon confirmed 24 new coronavirus cases, with seven of the cases coming from Kawangware.

Kawangware now has a total of 20 confirmed cases, with that latest seven coming from the community.

The new cases were confirmed after 1196 people were tested. Kuria West in Migori county has also registered two new cases. 10 of the new cases came from Eastleigh, with five from Mombasa. This brings a total number of confirmed cases in the Country to 435.

Health CAS Dr Mercy Mwangangi while giving daily Covid-19 briefings on Saturday May 2, at Afya House said that two patients had been discharged, bringing total number of recoveries to 152.

Mass testing for Covid-19 kicked off in Kawangware, Nairobi on Friday May 1, 2020.

The Ministry of Health said they had identified markets as one of the areas with high rates of transmission.Surveillance teams were deployed at different zones around Kawangware to allow for testing of several people.

The mass testing is also going on in Mombasa, which has also been identified as a hot spot. One more person in Mombasa is the latest death case that has been reported.

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Drama as Man Wearing ‘Gunia’ Moves to Hospital Demanding Release of Wife From Quarantine

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

An angry man from Ol Kalou in Nyandarua County on Saturday April 25 decided to wear a sack, and went outside the JM Kariuki Memorial County Referral Hospital to demand his wife be released after completing a 14-day quarantine.

The man identified as Joseph Mathenge said his wife is an agricultural products trader at Ol Kalou Market, and was placed under mandatory confinement at Nyandarua High School after she returned to Nyandarua from Sirare in Migori County, where she had gone to buy fresh farm produce, including sweet potatoes, to sell.

Mathenge says his spouse, Jane Njeri — a mother of two — has completed the set 14-day quarantine period, but health officers have refused to let her go home. Njeri’s COVID-19 status remains unclear.

“When she returned from Migori, she was directed to go to Ol Kalou Police Station. Upon arriving at the police post, she was told that she would be placed under forced isolation for 14 days,” said Mathenge.

“I want my wife released. She is supposed to be out [of the quarantine center] working. Mimi sibembelezi mtu anitolee bibi yangu. Sibembelezi, na sitabembeleza (I am not begging anyone to release my wife. I vow not to do that),” shouted Mathenge on Saturday, April 25 while standing outside the JM Kariuki Hospital.

“I have a right. I will pursue my right up to the last minute. My wife should be out to look after her children. Where is she now? You’ve turned my family into a broken one. The government is not quarantining people the right way. It is breaking families, which are institutions recognised by the same government. Without families, no government can stand,” he said.

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BusinessLatest NewsPolitics

Moses Kuria Deals a Major Blow to Newspapers

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has warned Kenyans against buying hard copies of local dailies.

The controversial lawmaker says that for Kenya to defeat Covid-19 pandemic, everyone has to follow the directives issued by the government.

Kuria says that it is shocking that Kenyans are still buying hard copy newspapers despite the obvious risks of spreading the Coronavirus disease.

The government has hence banned handshakes as a measure of containing the viurus.

Newspaper vendors normally carry them in their hands, and should one of them have the virus, it can easily spread to the buyer.

To stop this, Moses Kuria advises that Kenyans should adopt the culture of reading from the internet, now that almost all the Kenyan dailies are online.

He has warned Kenyans to avoid buying newspapers until coronavirus disease is defeated in the country.

“Dear all Kenyans. For us to fight COVID-19 effectively, we have to follow what the government says including use of digital services. It is shocking that Kenyans are still buying hard copy newspapers despite the obvious risks of spreading the Corona Virus.

“All our newspapers are now online. Keep yourself safe from Corona Virus. Avoid buying newspapers until we defeat this virus, which we will!” Moses Kuria posted.

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Covid-19: Nairobi Registers 11 New Cases, Mombasa 5 as Kenya’s Total Hits 336

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

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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Latest NewsLifestyle

Covid-19: US Records World’s Highest Number of Deaths Since The Pandemic’s Outbreak

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The United States of America has recorded the world’s highest numbers of Covid-19 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The US coronavirus deaths hit another grim milestone on Friday topping 50,000, as the number of lives lost in April rises by an average of 2,000 a day.

This is according to the Worldometers website, which tracks the pandemic.

The Johns Hopkins website also showed the death toll inching closer to 50,000.

The total number of US cases hit 868,000 with many states yet to report early on Friday.

As per Friday April 24 morning, the worldometers website showed that the total number of Covid-19 cases in the world are at 2,725,972.

The world has so far recorded 191, 061 deaths, with 749, 516 recoveries.

The United States saw its first documented death from the novel coronavirus on February 29, 2020.

The day before that Feb. 29 death, US President Donald Trump claimed that it was Democrats who were “politicizing” the coronavirus and said it was “their new hoax” to criticize his administration’s response to it.

A week later, the president was touting poll numbers and saying, “Anybody that wants a test can get a test.” 

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Covid-19: Kakamega Health Workers Threaten to Strike, Cite Intimidation and Lack of PPEs

by Gabriel Omolo
written by Gabriel Omolo

Kakamega County Referral Hospital doctors have threatened to down their tools in a week’s time.

This, is if the County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya will not protect them from harassment and threats by top health officials.

The medics also cite unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPEs).

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union Western branch secretary Sande Charo accused Health executive Rachael Okumu and chief officer Beatrice Etemesi of harassment and intimidation.

In a memo addressed to the governor and signed by the doctors, they said the referral and sub-county hospitals are ill-equipped to handle Covid-19 cases. They said their efforts to raise the matter with the two health officials has been met with intimidation, demotions and transfers from the top county hospital.

The memo also details inadequacy of PPE.

Last week, Oparanya said Sh85 million would be spent on protective gear in the fight against Covid-19.

Also last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta allowed governors to purchase the kits outside the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency.

“We beseech your office to intervene in this horrid environment which is aimed at derailing the fight against Covid-19 and plunging the county and country into misery.

“If action is not taken, then we will have no option but to withdraw our labour until when these grievances are addressed without further notice,” the memo reads. 

The doctors said the working environment for those handling Covid-19 cases is deplorable.

“These officers are working 24 hours without the simplest things like breakfast and lunch. They are not protected at all in addition to the long working hours,” a union member said.  

Dr Charo said the link between the health officials and medics in the fight against Covid-19 was weak and that healthcare workers are at the risk of contracting the virus if they handle active cases. 

“It has come to our realisation that amidst the devotion and selflessness of our doctors in the fight against Covid-19, there lies an ugly hand of intimidation, threats and highhandedness by the two officials,” the letter reads.

Etemesi and Okumu declined to comment. However, Etemesi acknowledged the matters raised.  

KMPDU Western Branch chairman Antony Akoto said the county has also not trained healthcare workers on how to handle the virus. Those who have been trained are not even a third of the total number of medics, he said.

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Latest NewsLifestyle

PHOTOS: Governor Mutua Converts Machakos Stadium Into a Covid-19 Hospital

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Machakos County Governor Dr Alfred Mutua has converted Machakos Kenyatta Stadium into a Covid-19 Hospital.

The new health facility will now be used for housing temporary mass screening and treatment areas and will be able to isolate those who are found positive and treat them for mild and non-critical conditions.

According to Governor Mutua, the move was taken to free up Machakos Level 5 Hospital from being a treatment and an isolation centre at the same time.

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Mutua further notes that the move will protect other patients at Machakos Level 5 from being infected with Covid-19.

“This will protect other patients from being infected too. It is out of experience from other hospitals where bacteria and viruses have been spread to patients who are suffering from other conditions,” Mutua posted on his twitter account on Monday afternoon.

The Machakos stadium is in a wide open area, and Mutua notes that this will allow good flow of air and conditions that promote distancing and quality of life.

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Machakos Level 5 hospital is only 200 meters from the stadium and during treatment, any medications required or health workers required can be dispatched to the stadium within minutes by foot.

Governor Mutua says that the county now has 1000 isolation beds.

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In addition to the stadium, Governor Mutua notes that his government has also identified a 200 bed hospital which.

He says the hospital has been set aside for critical care of Covid-19, patients.

Mutua went ahead to note that the hospital will be opened when everything is ready and set-up.

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Crime & InvestigationsLatest News

Covid-19: MP Arrested For Distributing Relief Food to His Starving Constituents

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

 As Covid-19 continues to bite the economy of most nations around the globe, some African lawmakers have resolved to distributing food among their constituents, to save them from this hard times.

In Kenya, several Members of Parliament have been on the front line distributing food to their people. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Lang’ata’s Nixon Korir are among the lawmakers that have shown this commitment so far.

However, the case looks different in the neighboring Uganda.

Police in Mityana District, Uganda on Sunday evening arrested Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake for allegedly distributing food to his starving constituents.

The Wamala region police spokesperson, Rachel Kawala, said the MP was arrested on allegations of distributing food items to constituents in Buswabulongo, Busimbi Division in Mityana municipality contrary to the presidential directives.

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Police said the MP had also flouted measures and guidelines of the Covid-19 national taskforce, led by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, on food distribution to vulnerable people.

“Today evening at 6 pm, we arrested the honourable Member of Parliament and he is kept in our custody at Mityana central police station for defying the president’s directives,” Ms Kawala said.

She said more details would be provided later by police spokesperson Fred Enanga.

The MP’s arrest comes hours after he posted that it was his conviction that government could still deal with starvation without “thieving” from the poor.

“I have been clandestinely giving out relief food items to my constituents, this I will not stop doing. In the same spirit, today we have successfully shared more food items in Mityana,” he said.

About four hours later, the MP tweeted that his home had been raided by security operatives.

“The tormentors have broken into my home, they are breaking every door of my house searching to arrest me for the crime of sharing food with starving people. Sad!” he said.

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Crime & InvestigationsLatest News

Revealed: The New Tricks Police Are Using to Extort Money From Poor Kenyans

by Muthoni Kamande
written by Muthoni Kamande

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Mercy Mwngangi on Sunday evening announced that anyone who will be found outside during curfew hours will be arrested and taken into a mandatory quarantine at their own costs.

Her statement comes a few days after Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai announced that anyone found without a face mask will be arrested to face a six months jail or pay a fine of Ksh 20,000.

But did you know that these announcements have created avenues for police to extort money from Kenyans?

Well, Controversial activist Boniface Mwangi has revealed how rogue Police officers are extracting bribes from poor Kenyans amid Coronavirus crisis.

According to Mwangi, rogue police officers are now asking for bribes threatening to take anyone declining their demand to quarantine at their own cost. In justifying his claims he used a example of his close friend who had to part with a whole sum of Ksh.10,000 to get his brother and a friend released.

 “My boy just paid 10,000 bribe at Buruburu police station to get his younger brother and his friend released. The police arrested them while they were outside their house chilling. They were given an option to pay the bribe or be taken to quarantine at their own cost tomorrow,” Mwangi noted.

“My boy laughed and said he is paying the price for voting for Jubilee three times. He told me there is woman who had sent her son to the Mpesa shop and the boy got arrested. He says the woman cried at the station because she didn’t have bribe money until the OCS released the son,” he added.

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Crime & InvestigationsLatest News

COVID-19: Kenya Announces Tougher Measures as Cases Soar to 270

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kenya has announced tougher measures in an effort to combat COVID-19 pandemic. The country on Sunday April 19, 2020, confirmed 8 new cases bringing the total to 270.

Out of the new cases, Seven are Kenyans and one is a foreign national, all with no history of travel. Three more have also recovered bringing the total to 67.

However, two other persons have died bringing the total fatalities to 14.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Mercy Mwangangi has announced tougher measures that should be followed by Kenyans.

Dr Mwangangi on Sunday evening while addressing the nation announced that anyone caught violating the curfew order would be arrested and treated as a contact person and therefore tested for the COVID-19.

She further urged Kenyans to be careful not to buy masks that wouldn’t help them after reports emerged that some unscrupulous traders were recycling the masks and selling them to unsuspecting Kenyans.

She also warned Kenyans ignoring social distancing measures that they would face the full force of the law. In particular she said that Kenyans using wines&spirits joints to drink would be arrested.

She revealed that the government will deploy technological surveillance to arrest those congregating after curfew.

“We have noticed that wines and spirits have been converted to drinking joints. Anyone found drinking at the wines and spirits shop will be arrested and the place closed down,” Mwangangi said.

CAS Mwangangi revealed that 56% of the cases were imported and only 44% have come from within the country.

She however stated that the country was concerned with increased infections from contact-to-contact transmission.

The CAS stated that Moi Referral Hospital and Kenyatta University Hospital had joined other facilities in the country allowed to test the virus

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Latest NewsLifestyle

Kenya’s Covid-19 Cases Soar as CS Kagwe Confirms More Cases (Watch Video)

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kenya has confirmed 12 more COVID-19 cases, bringing total number of confirmed cases in the country to 246.

Health cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe while addressing the media from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday morning said that five of the new cases are hotel workers.

He said that another four people are from the contact tracing.

He said that at the time he was addressing the media, the government had already tested about 450 samples.

However, the numbers may go high, since the announced cases are from the samples that have already been tested so far. Testing of other samples is set to go on throughout the day.

CS Kagwe noted that they need to improve their testing capability so as to have the capacity to trace and test more samples from the contacts of people who have already tested positive.

As per Thursday April 16, Kenya had recorded 234 cases.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that some measures will be put in place to help contain the pandemic, adding that the government had identified needy families who will benefit from weekly stipend.

Kenyans have so far been urged to continue observing the directives that have been put by the government to help contain the COVID-19 disease.

Watch the video below:

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