This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
Robert Burale's Covid-19 Diagnosis Exposes Kenyans' Distrust in Government ¶
Published on July 10, 2020
Robert Burale, a Kenyan pastor, recently tested positive for Covid-19 and was hospitalized for treatment. However, his situation quickly took a turn for the worse as Kenyans on social media accused him of faking his symptoms and even suggested that he was a government agent attempting to stage a false flag event.
According to conspiracy theorists, a false flag operation is an act committed with the intent of disguising the actual source of responsibility and pinning blame on a second party. In this case, Kenyans assumed that the government was behind Burale's diagnosis, trying to ramp up fear of the disease.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe was forced to come out and discredit the rumor, stating that Burale's Covid-19 status was genuine. However, the incident highlights the deep-seated distrust that many Kenyans have in their national government.
As the government takes charge of the Covid-19 response, it is essential to build trust with the public. However, the swift accusations against Burale reveal that this may be a challenging task.
It is worth noting that the incident also exposed the harsh treatment that Burale received in isolation, which he tearfully narrated in a video.
Ultimately, the Robert Burale incident serves as a reminder of the importance of trust between the government and its citizens, especially during times of crisis.
