This archive report was first published on 16 July 2020.
COVID-19 Cases in Machakos Under Question ¶
On July 15, 2020, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua confirmed that 68 out of 97 new COVID-19 cases in Machakos County were from a single factory in Mavoko Sub-county.
However, in a surprising U-turn, Governor Mutua later claimed that the 68 cases were not from Machakos, but from a neighboring county.
"It has just been clarified to me that out of the 97 positive COVID-19 numbers attributed to Machakos, 70 are from a factory in a neighboring county," he said.
Despite his claims, records at the Ministry of Health still indicate that Machakos recorded 97 positive cases on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Health had announced that Machakos county had recorded 97 cases, with 68 detected after mass testing at the unnamed factory, 25 from Athi River area, and four cases from patients at Machakos Level 5 hospital.
Dr. Mutua further justified his claims by saying he was only being factual and that correct figures enable us to plan and shift our resources accordingly.
"Just setting the record straight so that history will capture the correct figures. It is called being factual. Correct figures enable us to plan and shift our resources accordingly. What you call refuting is enhancing knowledge and the educated call it data - Statistics," he said.
As of July 15, 2020, the country had 11,252 cases, with Nairobi reporting 248 cases, closely followed by Machakos (97), Kiambu (20), Kajiado (15) and Migori (14) while Busia had 12 new cases.
Here is the distribution of the cases by counties:
- Nairobi - 248
- Machakos - 97
- Kiambu - 20
- Kajiado - 15
- Migori - 14
- Busia - 12
- Nakuru - 11
- Laikipia - 7
- Nyeri - 7
- Kilifi - 6
- Lamu - 4
- Uasin Gishu - 4
- Kakamega - 3
- Kisii - 3
- Kisumu - 2
- Makueni - 2
- Mombasa - 1
- Taita Taveta - 1
- Bomet - 1
