This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
Eastleigh, a bustling business hub in Nairobi, has been at the center of COVID-19 concerns in Kenya. However, a recent announcement by Health CS Mutahi Kagwe of 29 new cases on Tuesday has been disputed by activist Mohammed Asmali.
According to Asmali, the reported cases were part of a larger plot to shut down Eastleigh. He pointed out that Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala had tabled a bill in the Senate to request the national government to close down the area.
Asmali believes that the 29 cases were predetermined to justify the impending lockdown. He emphasized that the business community in Eastleigh would not allow themselves to be profiled.
"When you see a stupid village politician like Senator Malala all the way from Kakamega sponsoring a bill in parliament to close down Eastleigh, you can see why the announcement of rise of numbers of corona virus case is a predetermined narrative. We won’t allow to be profiled," Asmali said.
Asmali's claims are supported by a tweet from Makueni Senator Mutual Kilonzo Junior, who called for stringent measures to be implemented in the three most affected areas in Kenya, including Eastleigh, Kawangware, and Old Town in Mombasa.
Eastleigh has been identified as a COVID-19 hotspot, but its high numbers can be attributed to mass testing. If mass testing were conducted in other regions, the numbers would likely be consistent.
Eastleigh is a significant contributor to Kenya's economy, generating millions of shillings in daily revenue.
