Kilifi leaders, 16 cops test negative of coronavirus

Kilifi County leaders and 16 police officers who came into contact with area Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi have now completed their 14-day quarantine period with one MCA and his wife testing positive of Covid-19.

The MCA is said to have tested positive after interacting with Saburi for several hours shortly after he jetted back to the country. The MCA and his wife are said to have been admitted at Coast General Hospital.

Already, Rabai MP Kamoti Mwamkale, who recently interacted with Saburi has tested positive for the virus and is currently in hospital.

The legislator was first admitted at a private hospital in Nyali, Mombasa with breathing difficulties before he was later transferred at the Coast General Hospital where he is currently at the Intensive Care Unit.

Yesterday, Governor Amason Kingi who had isolated himself after he also came into contact with his deputy said that he had tested negative after undergoing two tests.

Speaking yesterday, Kingi also confirmed that the all the MCAs have been advised to quarantine and further congratulated them for completing their quarantine period.

Following completion of the period, Kingi said the MCAs will now take part in passing of supplementary budget “which will go a long way  in assisting groups whose businesses have been affected by Covid-19 containment restrictions.”

“Personally I am coming from quarantine and I thank God that I have tested negative after two tests,” said the governor.

At the same time, Coast Regional Police Commander Rashid Yakub said the 16 police officers who had gone into self quarantine after interacting with Kilifi DG had all turned negative.

“We advised them to go for self quarantine which they did at their respective homes and we thank God they all came out negative after taking tests. So they are now safe and have been allowed to resume their duties,” the Commander said.

Among the officers attached to Mtwapa police included Mtwapa OCS Bernard Otomei who developed breathing difficulties and had also gone in quarantine alongside Base Commander Mathew Koech.

The two police chiefs came in contact with the Saburi at Tuskys Mall in Mtwapa township on March 20 for two hours between 8.00 pm and 10.00pm.

At the same time, Mombasa politician cum businessman Suleiman Shahbal has taken Covid-19 test and self-isolated after he met Kilifi governor Amason Kingi who has gone into self quarantine following direct contact with patient zero at Coast, his deputy Saburi.

Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire said all seven MPs from Kilifi including himself had gone into quarantine adding that six of them tested negative after one was confirmed as positive.

“I thank God that I have completed the quarantine and took tests which came out negative…only one of us tested positive and we wish him well,” said Mwambire.

 Shahbal who was in quarantine, completed his isolation on April 2.