This archive report was first published on 15 May 2020.
Kenya's COVID-19 response has been marred by the absence of Health CS Mutahi Kagwe for the past nine days.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Kagwe has been the face of the COVID-19 taskforce, addressing the nation daily at 3 PM.
However, his last public appearance was on May 6, when he announced the cessation of movement in and out of Eastleigh in Nairobi and Old Town in Mombasa.
"You can go and shop in the area. What you cannot do is leave the area to go to another area. Specific geographical locations will be clarified by the Ministry of Interior Coordination of the National Government. Public transportation is not allowed to go into these areas," he said.
As of today, Kenya has over 800 COVID-19 cases, and Kagwe's absence has sparked concerns about the effectiveness of the government's response to the pandemic.
Some have speculated that Kagwe may be self-isolating, while others believe he may have realized that his briefings are no longer necessary.
On Twitter, netizens have been sharing their thoughts on Kagwe's absence, with some calling for him to return and provide updates on the pandemic.
