Case Against Rome-Based Kenyan Catholic Priest Accused of Spreading Covid-19 Dropped

The case in which Rome-based Kenyan Catholic priest, Father Richard Oduor was accused of knowingly spreading Covid-19 has been dropped.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji applied to withdraw the case after the investigating officer  failed to produce witnesses nine times thus forcing the court to adjourn the hearing of the matter severally.

The case was withdrawn under section 87(a) of the Criminal Procedure Code which allows the prosecutor to file an application to withdraw charges against an accused person at any time before final judgement.

Father Oduor arrived in the country from Italy on March 11th and spent the night at Utawala in Nairobi before travelling home to Siaya county a day later where he presided over the burial of a close relative.

He later traveled back to Nairobi where he tested positive for Covid-19 and placed under quarantine after being admitted to the hospital with the bug's symptoms.

He was later arrested and arraigned at  Milimani Law Courts in April where he was charged with knowingly spreading the disease. 

He was accused of failing to self-quarantine upon arrival in the country thereby transmitting the virus to several people as he moved around.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh150,000 or Sh500,000 bond.