This archive report was first published on 20 July 2020.
Coronavirus denial in Kenya ¶
Published on July 20, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on Kenya, with over 11,000 cases and 200 deaths reported. However, despite the overwhelming evidence, some Kenyans still deny the existence of the coronavirus.
One of the reasons for this denial is the stigma associated with COVID-19. People who have tested positive for the virus are often shamed and ostracized by their communities, leading them to keep their diagnosis a secret.
Waihiga Mwaura, a journalist, has been following the story of Ivy Brenda Rotich, the first COVID-19 patient to leave hospital in April. Rotich was vilified on social media, with many people accusing her of being a government stooge or a liar desperate for attention.
Today, despite the growing number of cases, there are still those who deny the existence of the coronavirus. A well-known motivational speaker and Pastor, Robert Burale, was recently accused of faking his COVID-19 positive status, while Benson Musungu, the director of Youth Affairs in the Orange Democratic Movement, was falsely accused of receiving a huge pay-out from the government to publicly say that he had received 15 days of treatment in the intensive care unit of a city hospital.
Unfortunately, such reactions have shamed many COVID-19 survivors into silence. Politicians and other leaders who have the ability to sway the masses are testing positive for COVID-19 but choosing to remain silent, possibly to avoid being stigmatized.
Prof Omu Anzala, a virologist and immunologist at the University of Nairobi, believes that African culture generally frowns upon full public disclosure when it comes to taboo topics such as disease. He also thinks that those who work in the health sector must share some of the blame because they have failed to communicate effectively with the public.
Prof Anzala suggests that health workers must start to listen to the concerns of communities, and choose words that resonate with them, bringing illumination where there is fear or ignorance. He also emphasizes the need for more emphasis to be placed on answering the questions of people, and encouraging collaboration with the government in order to save lives.
Once people understand the basic facts, they will become the best amplifiers of the core messages within their communities.
