This archive report was first published on 26 April 2020.
Published on April 26, 2020, the government has defended the dismissal of a scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), saying there is no excuse for delaying transmission of COVID-19 results in good time.
Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman stated that the decision to dismiss Dr. Joel Lutomiah was aimed at improving the coordination between the Ministry and KEMRI.
According to Dr. Aman, "It is our role to ensure that we coordinate (the transmission of results) properly," adding that "the other issues are administrative within Kemri."
Under Dr. Lutomiah's leadership, KEMRI had tested over 6,000 people for the coronavirus disease, with the country's infection rate rising to 355 on April 26 after 12 new cases were confirmed.
Dr. Lutomiah was in charge of KEMRI's rapid response unit, which oversees its laboratories and was responsible for briefing the Ministry of Health, until his dismissal.
On Sunday, Dr. Aman announced that 8 more patients had recovered from coronavirus, raising the total number of people discharged from hospital to 106, attributing the high rate of recoveries to the hard work and efficiency of healthcare workers.
With the threat of disease spreading further still imminent, the government has asked Kenyans to continue observing all the precautionary measures laid out by the government and the World Health Organisation.
The disease has claimed over 200,000 people across the world, with 2.9 million infections. In Kenya, the death toll stood at 14 people by April 26.
