This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, Kenya's government has been under scrutiny for its handling of the crisis. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe's briefings have provided a sense of reassurance, but a recent encounter with a family who lost their mother to the virus reveals a more disturbing reality.
On June 24, 2020, The Standard on Sunday published an exclusive interview with Jane Doe, the daughter of a woman who succumbed to the virus. The family's experience is a stark reminder of the government's unpreparedness to deal with the pandemic.
According to Jane, her mother was diagnosed with pneumonia and advised to test for Covid-19 as a precaution. However, the family faced a shortage of reagents, long queues, and a delay in getting the results. They eventually turned to a private laboratory, Lancet Kenya, and paid Sh8,000 for the test.
After testing positive, the family was asked to self-quarantine, but they received little support from the government. No official visited their home to check on their well-being, and they were left to fend for themselves. The doctor assigned to their case advised them to stay home and nurse their mother's pneumonia, as the isolation facilities were overwhelmed.
Tragically, Jane's mother collapsed and died just a day later. The family's experience highlights the lack of support and resources available to those affected by the pandemic. The government's response to the crisis has been criticized for being inadequate, and this family's story serves as a stark reminder of the need for more effective measures to combat the virus.
