COVID-19 Raid ODM’s Chungwa House

Following the diagnosis of Raila with the COVID-19 virus, members of the Orange Democratic Movement who had accompanied the Prime Minister to Mombasa and Kilifi in the week long BBI campaigns have been forced to go on self quarantine.

On Friday, the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna announced that they are taking early precautions and testing the staff members whom may have been exposed to the virus. He announced scaling down of activities at the busy Orange house.

Executive Director @ongwen and I leading the team at Chungwa House to get tested for Covid-19 this afternoon out of abundance of caution following our Party Leader's positive test. We will be scaling down operations at HQ as we await results. More measures will be announced. pic.twitter.com/zPcNZBjNFN

— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) March 12, 2021

ODM’s communications director Philip Etale has already confirmed that he tested positive for the virus. Other leaders who accompanied Raila included Junet Mohammed, Evans Kidero who has since gone into isolation and set to test today, Babu Owino was in the entourage as well, Babu however says he contracted the virus in December and had fully recovered.

In Taita, Raila was in contact with Governor Granton Samboja, ODM MPs Jones Mlolwa (Voi) and Andrew Mwadime (Mwatate) as well as a number of local MCAs and party officials.

In Mombasa, Governor Hassan Joho was with Raila. Besides Joho, other leaders who accompanied Raila were Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his deputy George Saburi, Mombasa Senator Stewart Madzayo, MPs Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita) Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Ken Chonga (Kilifi South), Teddy Mwambire (Ganze), Kwale Woman Representative Zainab Zulekha, and Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh.

Covid 19 is real. I have tested positive. Wear mask, sanitise and do social distance.

— Khalid Ali Joho (@khalidjoho) March 12, 2021

Still in Mombasa, Khalid Joho a brother to the Mombasa governor on Friday confirmed that he tested positive, our sources indicate that some other family members are in isolation and recovery. The PM visited the family. It’s not clear whether the governor has also tested neither has he commented on the issue, this week he led a delegation of businessmen to Zanzibar for bilateral talks with the government. Raila is also said to have visited his friend and businessman Mohamed Jaffer.

We held a productive meeting where we discussed pertinent issues affecting the two islands, key among them was strengthening the cordial relations btw the people of Mombasa and Zanzibar. We also looked at the vast trade and investment opportunities available for our people.

2/2 pic.twitter.com/kNjGHFAet1

— Governor Hassan Joho (@HassanAliJoho) March 10, 2021

Besides Raila, the Covid-19 test was administered on his relatives and employees including house-helps, drivers and bodyguards as well as office staff.

The staff include his communication director Dennis Onyango and private aide Silas Jakakimba who were with him in office before the Coast tour.

By yesterday, the Capitol Hill office remained a no-go zone while Jakakimba, who was scheduled to fly out of the country to the United Kingdom, cancelled the trip so that he could be tested.

“All those close to Raila, including family members, took a test and they have all tested negative,” said Mr Onyango.

He added: “The former premier is okay and stable. He is likely to stay a few days longer in hospital depending on what his doctor advises. All his family have tested negative; the family was not around when he arrived from the Coast.”