Govt. ‘yet to know’ Jachiga’s COVID-19 status though confirms a case in Kisumu East where the musician hailed from

Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Rashid Aman said Saturday that the Ministry of Health was yet to ascertain whether Ohangla musician Abenny Jachiga died of COVID-19.

Dr. Aman, who addressed journalists at Afya House in Nairobi, responded to a question by K24 TV reporter Austin Ageyo, who inquired whether Jachiga succumbed to the novel coronavirus based on how his burial was rushed.

Jachiga, born Bernard Obonyo, died on Thursday, June 11, and was buried on Saturday, June 13 at his ancestral home in Kolwa East, Chiga Sub-Location, Kisumu East Constituency after the original plot to inter him on Friday backfired after hundreds of mourners demanded that the artiste be given a decent send-off.

Jachiga was finally laid to rest at 1:30am Saturday by a contingent of police officers and only five family members.

The late musician’s younger brother, Austin Omondi, previously stated that Jachiga had complained of chest pains and breathing complications before he died at 2am on Thursday, June 11 at the St. Jairus Hospital in Kisumu.

Doctors at the facility had diagnosed him with pneumonia.

However, the manner in which he was buried; and the symptoms he exhibited, prompted a section of Kenyans online and offline to speculate that the 33-year-old died of COVID-19.

Shortly after his death, police said Jachiga’s samples were taken for COVID-19 testing.

When asked whether the musician’s samples returned negative or positive results, Health CAS Dr. Aman said Saturday he was “unaware” of the outcome, let alone having knowledge that Jachiga’s samples were extracted after his demise.

“I read about the Ohangla musician today; how his fans and villagers pulled out his casket from the grave with the intention of retaining his body until the day they deem to be appropriate for his burial,” said Dr. Aman.

“I am learning from you that his samples were taken Thursday for COVID-19 testing. If that is indeed true, then I’d say I do not know what the fate of that test is,” said the CAS.

Dr. Aman went ahead to warn mourners against flouting the COVID-19 containment measures should their loved ones be buried in a manner that “suggests they could have died of the dreaded virus”.

“We have put in place measures to protect everyone. What happened there (Kolwa East) went against the Ministry of Health anti-coronavirus measures. If indeed it was COVID-19 that killed the Ohangla musician, then the mourners created an undesirable situation in which the virus was likely to spread.

“I am urging Kenyans to observe the COVID-19 safety measures if a burial is conducted in a way that raises suspicion or brings about confirmation that the deceased’s death was as a result of COVID-19. Please, take into consideration the COVID-19 containment measures so that you protect yourself.”

Dr. Aman’s lack of confirmation -- whether Jachiga succumbed to COVID-19, or not -- came on the back of his revelation that two people from Kisumu County caught the virus. One of the patients came from Kisumu East Constituency, which is Jachiga’s hometown. The other case was recorded in Kisumu Central.

The CAS also revealed that four people died of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, but did not disclose the regions in which the fatalities were recorded.

Kenya registered 152 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the country’s total tally to 3, 457, Dr. Aman said Saturday.

The 152 infections were discovered in 3, 503 samples tested between Friday and Saturday.

All the new cases were recorded among Kenyan patients.

One hundred and sixteen (116) of the new cases were discovered among male patients, whereas 36 were female.

The youngest new patient is aged 2, whereas the oldest is aged 65 years.

Nairobi produced 70 of the 152 cases, Mombasa (41), Busia (16), Kiambu (9), Kajiado (4) Machakos and Migori (3 cases each), Kisumu (2), Taita Taveta, Narok, Nakuru and Uasin Gishu counties (1 case each).

Kenya also posted 57 new recoveries, bringing to 1, 221 the total number of recoveries in the country.

Four more people died of the disease, pushing the toll to 100, said Dr. Aman.

Kenya has so far tested 112, 171 samples for COVID-19.