This archive report was first published on 26 August 2020.
On August 26, 2020, Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja announced that several top county government officials and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) had tested positive for COVID-19.
Of the 23 new cases confirmed in Taita Taveta in the past two weeks, 13 were County Executive Committee (CEC) members and County Assembly officials, including MCAs and staff.
The Taita Taveta County Assembly ceased operations following the wave of infections, and the County Government ordered rapid testing of all county staff and fumigation of county headquarters in Mwatate.
Close contacts of the County Assembly members and CECs were also traced and placed under quarantine.
Samboja noted that the testing of county workers was meant to avoid putting lives of county staff, their families, and members of the public at risk.
“I wish to single out the speed and urgent attention the County Health Care Workers have given to this outbreak and level of dedication and sacrifice demonstrated in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” Samboja said.
At the same time, the Kirinyaga County Assembly also ceased operations after one case of COVID-19 was confirmed among its members.
