This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
On Sunday morning, a disturbing scene unfolded in Juja, Kenya, near Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. A taxi driver, James Maina, was found dead in his car, sparking fears among locals that he had died from Covid-19.
However, as it turned out, Maina had died from unknown causes, and the scene was a result of a misinformed response from the community.
According to eyewitnesses, Maina's car was seen speeding with lights on before being found parked near the university. Locals reported that the car had hooted repeatedly, and the security guards at the hospital may have ignored Maina, thinking he was drunk.
Mr. Charles Chege, whose brother's car Maina used to operate as a taxi, described the scene as 'terrible' and said that picking a corpse in a body bag without ascertaining the cause of death 'is not good, and only adds pain and sadness to the bereaved.'
Mr. Chege also revealed that Maina was known to him for a long time and was not ill before his death. He suggested that Maina may have been going home before curfew time and dropped by a joint for a drink, which may have led to his death.
Maina's wife, Esther Wangari, also expressed her shock and confusion over her husband's death, saying that he had not been sick and had not even sneezed before his death.
As the community continues to grapple with the mystery of Maina's death, questions remain unanswered, and the incident serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information before jumping to conclusions.
