From the day Kenya confirmed its first covid 19 case, there have been heightened activities in county governments in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly corona virus.
COG chairman and Kakamega county governor has been the face of governors fighting the dreaded disease. Governor Oparanya has made pronouncements which have won him praises and condemnation in equal measure. One such unpopular decree by the governor was when he ordered residents to immidiately collect bodies from Kakamega county hospital mortuary and bury them as soon as possible.
This was followed by another order where locals were to bury their dead as soon as they rested to avoid people congregating hence spreading the deadly virus. This very order did not go down well with locals who consider the dead as special and wish to give them a descent send off as opposed to “throwing them off like dogs”. According to luhyas norms, birth, initiation and burial are ceremonies that are revered highly.
Despite the opposition and deep murmurs, Oparanya’s directives are being implimented. The good governor has also ordered county officers to work from home as part of his efforts to combat covid 19.
Buoyed by all the above, Oparanya made some announcements on Thursday that have earned him a dress down from the health ministry. In total disregard to protocal, Governor Oparanya abrogated himself powers beyond his province and announced that Kakamega county had recorded its first covid 19 case.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this afternoon Kakamega county has recorded its first corona virus case. The patient a young man from Mumias West arrived from overseas. His samples have been sent to Nairobi and will be confirmed” Oparanya said.
This announcement sent shivers accross silent Kakamega county and as soon as the ministry of health got wind of it, Oparanya was seriously repremanded. The C.A.S for health Hon. Mwangangi without mincing her words told Governor Oparanya not to abrogate himself powers that only belonged to the national government under the ministry of health.
Her colleague in the ministry of health and director of Health services Dr Patrick Amoth was very categorical and said.
“We urge all governors not to make pronouncements on patients or victims of covid 19. This is a national government’s issue under the ministry of health. Governor Oparanya and any other governors should desist from making further inflammatory announcement on victims, suspects or their death forthwith” Said Mr Amoth.
Kenya is currently under a curfew from 7:pm to 5am daily for the next 30 days
