All Covid-19 Tests on MPs Returned Negative, Speaker Justin Muturi Says

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi says none of the MPs and parliamentary employees tested for Covid-19 early this month was found to be suffering from the disease.

Lancet Kenya, a Nairobi-based private laboratory, was contracted by Parliament to conduct Covid-19 tests on MPs between April 2nd and 4th.

Muturi, in a statement shared on Parliament’s social media handles, said all tests done during the voluntary exercise came back negative.

“I wish to confirm that for all the individuals who tested, including all Members of Parliament from both Houses and members of staff, there were, quite thankfully, I must say, NO confirmed COVID-19 cases,” Muturi said in a statement dated Wednesday, April 22nd.

“However, Honourable Members, let me sound a word of caution. We should not relent and we must continue to uphold the sanitization measures including wearing of face masks at all times, hand-washing or use of hand sanitizers, and observing strict social distancing, amongst other measures.”

He further noted that the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) is organizing a second round of Covid-19 testing and urged all MPs and parliament employees to participate.

“This exercise, which will be voluntary, is targeted at all Members of Parliament and all members of staff. Further, the staff of contracted cleaning companies working in Parliament will also be required to be tested,” he added.

“The dates when the excise will be undertaken will be communicated as soon as practicable.”

Muturi’s statement comes two weeks after a section of local media reported that 17 MPs were found to be Covid-19 positive following the testing exercise.

But Lancet CEO Ahmed Kalebi in a statement dismissed the reports as incorrect and misleading.

“The information circulating in the media about COVID-19 confirmed cases at Parliament is completely incorrect, misleading, and should be disregarded,” he said.