This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On May 11, 2020, Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi made a triumphant return to work, more than two months after he was forcefully quarantined, hospitalized, and later charged for allegedly flouting government guidelines on the coronavirus pandemic.
During the commissioning of a maternity wing and surgical theatre at the Bamba Health Centre in Ganze constituency, Saburi gave a message of hope to residents in the fight against the disease, despite denying charges of deliberately exposing locals to the novel disease by refusing to self-quarantine after a trip to and from Germany.
"I laud the government for its efforts in the fight against the pandemic that has led to the flattening of the curve in Kilifi County," Saburi said, praising the National and County Governments in the area for their efforts that had led to Kilifi County being declared coronavirus-free after all Covid-19 patients admitted at an isolation centre in the county recovered about two weeks ago.
Speaking during the function, Governor Amason Kingi said he was ready to take leave following the return to work of his deputy after working tirelessly to stop the spread of the disease in his county that is currently under cessation of movement in and out of its borders.
"As you know, Kilifi was the first county in coast region to report a case of Covid-19. This brought panic and shivers among residents and the county government had to move swift to control the spread of the virus," Kingi said, calling on Kenyans to stop stigmatizing Covid-19 survivors.
