This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On Sunday morning, a taxi driver's lifeless body was discovered in his car in Juja, sparking a COVID-19 scare among locals.
However, it was later revealed that the driver, James Maina, had died from unknown causes, not COVID-19.
According to eyewitnesses, Maina's car was found parked near Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, with the windows rolled up and doors locked.
Locals became suspicious when they found the car with mist on its windows, leading them to believe that Maina had died from COVID-19.
"The whole exercise created a terrible scene. Many people thought he had been killed by the virus," said Mr. Charles Chege, whose brother's car Maina used to operate as a taxi.
Mr. Chege added that Maina was known to him for long and that his death is mysterious as he was not ill.
"He was working normally. Maina may have been going home before curfew time and dropped by some joint for a drink. It is probably at this time that he began feeling sick," Mr. Chege said.
According to witnesses, the vehicle was seen speeding with lights on, before being found where it was parked on Sunday.
Locals said the vehicle also hooted repeatedly and the security guards at the hospital may have ignored Maina thinking he was drunk.
"He never parks there but he sped towards the hospital on that day," Mr. Chege said.
"His drink may have been spiked or he was just drunk. Perhaps he suffocated," Mr. Chege added.
Mr. Chege's brother's car was used by Maina as a taxi, and locals initially thought Mr. Chege was the one inside the car.
"I used to drive the car before he took it. When people saw it, they thought I was the one inside. I began receiving calls at 6am but went back to sleep," Mr. Chege said.
"The number of calls increased. When I finally picked up the phone, the caller said some people were attempting to break the car windows," Mr. Chege added.
Mr. Chege's brother's car was used by Maina as a taxi, and locals initially thought Mr. Chege was the one inside the car.
"I tried contacting him but he did not pick my calls. I thought he was busy," said Maina's wife Esther Wangari.
"He was fine when he left the house. He never even sneezed. There are many questions that demand answers. His lips were dry when I saw the body," Mrs. Wangari said.
