This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
Published on July 1, 2020, Kiambu Central MP Jude Njomo has exposed a COVID-19 testing gaffe that led to his family's agony. His late mother, Margaret Njomo, was buried at 8pm after receiving a false diagnosis.
Speaking during a Health Committee sitting, Njomo revealed that his mother had tested negative at the Aga Khan Hospital after falling ill. However, on June 8, she fell ill again and was rushed to the Mater Hospital where she died on arrival.
Her body was preserved at the facility as the family returned home to make funeral plans. However, the family received news that their late mother had tested positive for coronavirus and they needed to plan for a funeral immediately as per MOH protocols.
‘I tried to beg for more time but in line with the law, we received a call at 3pm we buried her by 8pm, for the 82 years she had lived we felt that we did not give her the dignity,’ the MP explained.
The family, dissatisfied with the results, asked the Mater Hospital to conduct another test. The test, carried out at the Nairobi Hospital, returned negative results.
Further, the Kiambu MP approached Ministry of Health Director General Patrick Amoth with the contradictory results. Two other tests carried out at the National Influenza Centre also returned negative results.
‘I asked myself how many Kenyans have gotten wrong results, how many other Kenyans go through quarantine because of a wrong outcome, how many labs are careless, there are many Kenyans who are voiceless and let me the voice for those who have been offended by the careless laboratories, I wrote to KMPDB to inquire what is the problem of Lancet?’ The MP asked.
