President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, April 1, held a video call with recovered coronavirus patients, identified as Brenda and Brian.

President Kenyatta spoke from State House, whereas Brenda and Brian spoke from Ministry of Health Headquarters at Afya House.

The Head of State termed the pair’s decision to seek treatment as “brave” and “highly-recommended”.

Addressing Brenda, who was Kenya’s first COVID-19 patient in Kenya, the president said: “We are very proud of you, Brenda. You informed us in a calm manner [about] all the people you were in contact with [after testing positive for COVID-19]. We were able to trace all the people you interacted with.”

Brenda, who arrived in Kenya from Chicago, USA, via London on March 5, was discovered to be a carrier of coronavirus on March 12.

Four days after her arrival in Kenya, she took herself to Mbagathi Hospital, where she was tested for COVID-19 and confirmed to be a carrier.

“As a result of that, you were able to limit your contact with other people. There is no single death that can be attributed to your infection, Brenda. This is unlike others who did not want to quarantine, and ended up infecting numerous other people. The people, who infected others were older than you, were leaders, and should have known better,” said President Kenyatta.

“I urge those who have [COVID-19] symptoms, to behave like these brave Kenyans. Let us avoid infecting other Kenyans,” said President Kenyatta.

Addressing Brian, who contracted the virus from interacting with Brenda, the president said: "I am proud of your bravery, courage, sense of patriotism.”

Recovered patients speak out

While responding to the president’s message, Brenda, 27, said she had been in mandatory quarantine for 23 days, and that while under observation at the Mbagathi Isolation Centre, she received outstanding medical care.

“Three days after I arrived in Kenya [on March 5], I felt unwell, and suspected that something was wrong. On the fourth day, I took myself to Mbagathi Hospital, where I was tested and confirmed to be coronavirus positive. I have been in quarantine for 23 days, and while at the hospital, I received proper treatment. I urge Kenyans, who suspect that they have contracted the disease to come forward, get tested and be confident that doctors would help them heal,” said Brenda.

On his part, Brian said: “I caught the virus from contacting Brenda. Immediately [after] Brenda’s results came out, they [health officers] came for me, and took me to a government facility, where I was tested and results returned positive. [I was consequently put in quarantine, and under medication]. As a result of that treatment, I am happy I have recovered. I am telling Kenyans that coronavirus is real, and Kenyans should take precaution,” said Brian.

Following the pair’s recovery, President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to trust that they can be healed, and that coronavirus is not a death sentence.

“There is no problem telling Kenyans that I have a problem, especially if it is a problem that is treatable,” said President Kenyatta, who asked Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to schedule a one-on-one meeting with the recovered COVID-19 patients.

Curfew

In his address, the president apologised to Kenyans for the brutality meted out on citizens after the7pm-5am curfew came into force on Friday, March 27.

"I want to apologise to all Kenyans for the excesses that were conducted [while enforcing the curfew],” said the Head of State.

Kenya, as of Tuesday, March 31, had 59 confirmed coronavirus cases, with one death registered and two recoveries.