Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata has rubbished claims that he is among the 17 legislators who have tested positive for Covid-19.

Speaking to People Daily, the lawmaker said he has not been tested for COVID-19 and the list circulating on social media is fake.

He assured Kenyans he is safe.

On April 7, PD Online authoritatively broke the news of 17 legislators who have tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Confidential

Contacted for comment yesterday, Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka was reluctant to confirm or deny the reports of members testing positive.

He, however, said the results for individual legislators who took the Covid-19 test were private and confidential.

“You know testing was voluntary and very confidential; the doctors give results to individual members even for the testing,” said the Speaker.

He added: “I can only talk of myself because I did the test here, together with my family and security; I know my results, that I am negative but for the rest of the members, they have been given results individually.

“The only person who would know the status of who was tested is the individual and the Ministry of Health.

I cannot speculate or say it has happened.”

However, People Daily has reliably learned that on Monday Lusaka and his National Assembly counterpart Justin Muturi were forced to call off sittings scheduled for this week to avoid new infections after receiving the reports.

Yesterday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed 14 more new cases, bringing the total of those infected locally to 172.So far six people have succumbed to the disease while four have recovered.

Among those who were subjected to testing and mandatory quarantine are members of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee ( JLAC) and the Delegated Legislation Committee.

Cessation of movement The two committees with a combined membership of 38 held a joint sitting on March 17 in the presence of Rabai MP Kamoti Mwamkale, who has since tested positive.

Others were those who attended the burial of Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori two weeks ago and came into close con-tact with Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi, who has recovered from corona-virus and has been charged with ignoring government directive for a mandatory 14 day self-quarantine.

In the Senate, members of the Parlia-mentary Service Commission (PSC) who had travelled outside the country in the past 30 days were tested and given back their results.

Additional reporting by Hilary Mageka