MP, who has been unwell for a week, airlifted to Nairobi after health condition deteriorates

By John Makuba and Brian Okoth

Kabuchai Constituency Member of Parliament, James Lusweti Mukwe, was on Thursday evening (April 16) airlifted to Nairobi for advanced medical attention after his health condition deteriorated.

Lusweti, who has been unwell for nearly one week now, was receiving treatment at a Bungoma hospital.

An AMREF helicopter of registration number 5Y-FDF was deployed to transport him to the capital city.

Lusweti, 53, is serving his second term as an MP. He clinched the Kabuchai parliamentary seat in the general elections of March 4, 2013 and August 8, 2017. He is a Ford Kenya Party member.

Details of his ailment remain uncommunicated.

The lawmaker’s airlifting to Nairobi comes ten days after President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a 21-day travel ban -- on air, rail and road -- into and out of Nairobi. The directive was issued to avert the spread of COVID-19.

The president would, a day later (April 7), in an interview with Kikuyu radio stations, clarify that persons travelling to Nairobi from other counties to seek medical attention won’t be barred from entering the commercial capital.

“The measures we have formulated are not meant to punish Kenyans, but to prevent the spread of this dreaded virus. Anyone who wishes to travel to Nairobi, and has a valid reason, I have instructed State officers, including police, to facilitate that that movement; no one should be oppressed,” said the Head of State.

“For example, if one is to travel from Nyeri to the KNH in Nairobi, or any other hospital in the capital, police or anyone in position of authority, should not stop that person from travelling. The persons we are stopping [from travelling] are those entering the metropolis without a genuine reason,” said President Kenyatta.

The Head of State’s remarks came just a day after Government Spokesperson, Cyrus Oguna, stated that the 21-day travel restriction would be followed to the letter with no exemptions, even to the patients referred to hospitals in Nairobi.

“It is unfortunate at this time; you will have to get treatment in your county of residence until this 21-day travel restriction is lifted,” Oguna, on April 6, told a Citizen Television viewer from Nakuru who had been referred to the KNH.