This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
Published on June 20, 2020, the theft of Covid-19 equipment donated by Alibaba founder Jack Ma and the Chinese government in March has left many in Kenya shocked.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a team of detectives from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) office is looking into the cases.
Director of Investigations John Kariuki confirmed that the JKIA office is handling the investigations, but he was not aware of the progress made so far.
However, when the Saturday Nation visited the DCI branch at JKIA, officers denied knowledge of any such investigations and referred the team to the head office on Kiambu Road for any information on the matter.
The reaction of officers at the JKIA branch indicates that details of the investigations remain a reserve of very few senior officials at the DCI.
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti did not pick up numerous calls or respond to text messages requesting information on the progress of the investigations by press time.
The first consignment was donated by Mr Ma, who had made a similar philanthropic gesture in other African countries.
Mr Ma's care package had 100,000 face masks and 20,000 testing kits, which arrived at JKIA on March 24.
As the huge consignment of test kits disappears, the government is keeping over 5,000 samples that are yet to be tested due to the global shortage of testing materials.
Health Director-General Patrick Amoth acknowledged that the country has been experiencing a shortage of test kits, but said the ministry had received a batch that would last the country four weeks.
Healthcare workers have been complaining that they do not have enough personal protective equipment, a situation that is putting their lives at risk.
The alleged theft of Mr Ma's donations has been discussed in hushed tones since April, with rumours flying high on social media.
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe publicly acknowledged that thieves had found their way to Mr Ma's consignment for the first time last week.
The second donation, from the Chinese government, arrived on April 20 at the same aerodrome.
Two Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in Kericho County, while 12 people who had come into contact with them have been placed under quarantine.
The father and daughter who tested positive have been placed under quarantine at Kericho County Referral Hospital.
