Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi Says He Has Never Tested Positive for Covid-19

Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi says he has never tested positive for Covid-19 as alleged by the Health Ministry.

Saburi, through his attorney George Kithi, on Wednesday told Mombasa Principal Magistrate Elvis Michieka that he was not a carrier of coronavirus and hence cannot be charged under the provisions of the Public Health Act 2012.

Lawyer Kithi added that reports claiming that Saburi had contracted Covid-19 were “crafted to tarnish my client’s reputation”.

“Your honor, we can confirm that my client did not submit any samples to KEMRI, which diagnosed him with COVID-19. Tests conducted on my client at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH) two days later showed that he was Covid-19 negative,” noted Kithi.

“Your honor, miracles do happen but on my client’s case, how would you explain this: his samples tested by KEMRI indicated he was Covid-19 positive, then two days later, another test by Coast Provincial General Hospital confirms him to be coronavirus negative?” posed Kithi.

Kithi presented in court test results showing that Saburi was coronavirus negative as of March 21st, adding that two subsequent tests confirmed he was Covid-19-free.

“My client has never met the doctor who signed a report on his Covid-19 test outcome, which confirmed him to be positive for the virus,” the lawyer said.

Kithi asked the court to release the accused on bail, saying it was his Constitutional right. But State Prosecutor Alloys Kemo said that there is evidence that Saburi tested positive for the infection.

“Doctors’ and the KEMRI reports cannot be taken lightly. The accused should not belittle the documents. There will come a time when the doctor will be given the opportunity to explain his findings before the court,” said Kemo.

The prosecution wants Saburi detained for 10 more days to allow police to complete their investigations, arguing that he could interfere with the process if granted bail.

On April 6th, Saburi was charged with willfully exposing himself in public while suffering from an infectious disease without taking proper precautions, contrary to the Public Health Act 2012. 

The charge sheet stated that between March 6th and March 22nd, within Kilifi and while suffering from COVID-19, he willfully and unlawfully without taking any precautions exposed himself in public. Saburi pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Saburi was arrested on April 3rd, a few hours after Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe announced that he had recovered fully from the virus. He was arrested after being discharged from Coast General Hospital.