Lancet Kenya dismisses reports claiming 17 MPs tested positive for COVID-19

Pathologists Lancet Kenya who have been offering coronavirus testing services have dismissed reports claiming that 17 Members of Parliament have tested positive for COVID-19.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the laboratory said any information indicating that there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Parliament is “incorrect, misleading and should be disregarded.”

“Our attention has been drawn to the information circulating in the media about the recent testing for COVID-19 at Parliament grounds… The purported information circulating in the media about COVID-19 confirmed cases at Parliament is incorrect, misleading and  should be disregarded,” reads the statement.

Pathologists Lancet Kenya was commissioned by Parliament to carry out coronavirus tests on the lawmakers.

Lancet says the results for each MP who was tested for the coronavirus were released to each individual person, to ensure confidentiality is safeguarded.

“Any person who turns positive for COVID-19 is informed individually by the doctors. In addition, the Ministry of Health is the only authority mandated to release COVID-19 positive results to the public,” said the laboratory.

Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Mercy Mwangangi, in a press briefing on Wednesday, said there was no official information on confirmed coronavirus cases among the MPs.

“The Ministry is aware, and we did see the headlines reporting that there are positive cases of coronavirus in Parliament, what we have to say on this matter is that as it stands today and at this time, we have no official reporting of these cases to the Ministry of Health,” she said.

Following claims of confirmed COVID-19 cases at Parliament, a number of legislators on Wednesday came out to disclose their test results after an unverified list of MPs claimed to have tested positive emerged on social media.

Some of the lawmakers who have disclosed they tested negative include Senators James Orengo, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr, Leda Olekina among others.

I took a voluntary COVID-19 test on Fiiday last week. The result was directly conveyed to me in person by a doctor. Tested Negative. It is my civic duty to continue complying with guidelines. It's not a matter of choice. At the same time parliament cannot abdicate. Chew gum &walk pic.twitter.com/wSXXsafvcl

— James Orengo (@orengo_james) April 7, 2020

I have received my #COVID19 results and I am happy to report that the PCR INFECTION DISEASES SARS-COV-2 or #CoronaVirus were not detected. I encourage everyone who can to stay at home, maintain physical distance and wear a mask at all time.We shall triumph.I thank the good lord! pic.twitter.com/SXNL0UMrLC

— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) April 7, 2020