Kericho Governor Prof. Chepkwony Busted By US Ambassador McCarter Over Donation

Politicians can be very sleek and only keen eyes can see this. Kericho Governor Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony was unveiling a mass testing drive for Covid-19. The project was sponsored by the US through CDC and initial unveiling in January.

So since right  now everyone is scoring political points with the different mitigation measures, the Governor found an opening for advancing his political points.

He made it look like a county’s own brainchild and KEMRI’s which is in-fact not the truth.

KERICHO COUNTYREADY FOR MASS #Covid_19 TESTING. THREAD

I am proud to unveil mass COVID-19 testing at the KEMRI/Walter Reed Laboratory in Kericho today.
We are proud of our collaboration with KEMRI which means that we can now conduct up to 2000 COVID19 tests per day. pic.twitter.com/ctw99HQYCE

— Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony (@GVNChepkwony) April 24, 2020

Until someone curious in the comments raised a flag.

I would wish to know how much the county invested in this project…kemri/Walter reed is funded by USA any word bwana @USAmbKenya

— David k siele (@DavidSiele) April 25, 2020

And none other than the US ambassador replied;

You mean this equipment bought by the USA unveiled Jan30, 2020 pic.twitter.com/AM5UiMiJ4v

— Ambassador Kyle McCarter (@USAmbKenya) April 25, 2020

Left with egg on his face, the Governor immediately replied to save the face.

Yes indeed Amb McCarter. I acknowledge and appreciate the huge role that the United States has played in this process as I mentioned in my statement attached. What we launched yesterday was the deployment of this equipment towards mass testing for COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/s0OPJTXBY6

— Prof. Paul Kiprono Chepkwony (@GVNChepkwony) April 25, 2020

And as diplomatic as it gets, he helped him and let it slide.

We are collaborating well indeed. We will win against this virus together. #USAMarafiki

— Ambassador Kyle McCarter (@USAmbKenya) April 25, 2020

Many uninformed people would’ve easily let the Governor run with the points. The truth is if hear things about KEMRI in any of these places, truth is
1. Kisumu = CDC (like american MOH) @CDCKenya
2. Kericho = WRP (US army research)
3. Kilifi = Wellcome trust (UK program) @KEMRI_Wellcome
4. Busia = A project by Prof. Mwau (we dont have the name).

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony deceitfully “unveils” equipment as being for mass testing in Kericho County for Wuhan Virus (COVID-19) .. The Equipment had been donated & launched by US Ambassador Kyle McCarter long before we knew of this virus … Kenyan leaders are just Conmen! pic.twitter.com/XN2MfjkHar

— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) April 26, 2020

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony deceitfully “unveils” equipment as being for mass testing in Kericho County for Wuhan Virus (COVID-19) .. The Equipment had been donated & launched by US Ambassador Kyle McCarter long before we knew of this virus … Kenyan leaders are just Conmen! pic.twitter.com/XN2MfjkHar

— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) April 26, 2020

Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony deceitfully “unveils” equipment as being for mass testing in Kericho County for Wuhan Virus (COVID-19) .. The Equipment had been donated & launched by US Ambassador Kyle McCarter long before we knew of this virus … Kenyan leaders are just Conmen! pic.twitter.com/XN2MfjkHar

— Donald B Kipkorir (@DonaldBKipkorir) April 26, 2020