Why Moses Kuria Wants Names of 17 MPs Who Tested Positive for Covid-19 Published

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has reacted to reports that at least 17 Kenyan MPs have tested positive for coronavirus.

Kuria, through Facebook on Wednesday, asked Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to publish the names of the said MPs, saying this will enable those who may have come into contact with them to also undergo Covid-19 testing.

He argued that, due to the nature of a parliamentarian’s job, the 17 MPs may have interacted with at least 3,000 people each, hence infecting over 50,000 persons.

“Dear CS Mutahi Kagwe. If its true 17 MPs have tested positive for Corona Virus, it is only fair you release the names so that Kenyans who have interacted with them can rush for testing,” Kuria wrote.

He continued: “An MP by the nature of their jobs can infect up to 3,000 people so we are looking at 50,000 infections arising from MPs. If not true, arrest the owners of The Star and People Daily as you promised a few days ago.”

The 17 MPs are said to have received positive Covid-19 results after undergoing voluntary testing last week, according to reports by various local dailies.

When contacted for comment on the matter, Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka could not confirm or deny the reports. 

"You know testing was voluntary and this is very confidential. The doctors gave results to individual members who went for testing. I can only talk about myself because I did the testing here plus my security and my family. I know my results. I am negative.”

"But for the rest of the members who have done the testing, they are being given their results as individuals, so the only person who would know is the individual who was tested and the Ministry of Health. I cannot speculate nor say that this has happened," he told The Star on Tuesday.