By A Correspondent- Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has called on Kenyans to cooperate with government agencies in a bid to counter the spread of coronavirus in the country.

This comes after Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Kenya on Friday, March 13.

In a statement, Raila reminded Kenyans that the whole nation was united in containing the virus and ensuring Kenyans’s safety thus there was no reason to be worried or afraid.

“As a country, we are in this together and we appeal to our citizens not to panic but instead cooperate with the government which has factual and science based advice on how we must proceed,” he stated.

Health CS Kagwe announcing government’s decision to suspend all public gatherings. 

Whereas the government was doing everything within its means in regards to the infection, the ODM boss noted the measures will definitely cause disruptions across the nation.

“A raft of measures has been announced by the government…These measures will cause disruptions but we must adhere to them as the best scientific advices that we can rely on to overcome the danger,”he added.

An isolation facility at Mbagathi Hospitals for treatment of coronavirus patients. Kenya has such isolation level five hospitals. Photo: Kenyatta National Hospital.

Earlier on the day, Kagwe announced government’s decision to suspend all public gatherings including inter- school events, prison visits, church crusades and all other public meetings.

He, however, exempted normal churches as long the congregants are provided with hand sanitisers.

“We have suspended all public gatherings, meetings, religious crusades, games and all events that are of a huge public nature. Normal church service can go on, provided they provide hand sanitisers s people go into the worship areas,”he directed.

The patient, a 27-year-old student traveled in from USA via a London flight.

She had been tested in Chicago and Ohio but all results were negative.

“This was a lady who was living on her own, I want to thank her because she has put citizen responsibility to the test. Because the minute she started feeling unwell and she said to us having read what you have been publishing she thought that she took her herself to the hospital,” the CS confirmed.

With the confirmation, Kenya became the first country in Eastern Africa to report the first coronavirus case.

By Friday, March 13, at least 5,082 people out of 138,252 cases had died.-Wires