Mwala sub county yesterday recorded another fatality from the Covid 19 pandemic bringing to seven the number of people who have died from the disease in the area.
The victim, a 92-year-old woman who was laid to rest at Kyambusya village, Nthaani location is said to have succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at the Machakos Level 5 hospital.
She is said to have been undergoing treatment for other health related complications at the time of her demise.
The brief ceremony was conducted in accordance with the Covid 19 health regulations under the supervision of Mwala sub county Public Health Officer Julius Musyimi and area chief Raphael Mutua.
It is not clear how the elderly woman got infected with the disease but according to Mr Elija Kiilu, who is a close relative to the deceased, they suspect she could have contracted it from the hospital where she had been admitted.
But while addressing the mourners at the service, Musyimi cautioned the residents against lowering their guard in the fight against the disease which remains a health scare across the globe.
He reminded them on the need to adhere to the laid down health protocols like observing of social distance, wearing of face masks while in public places and washing of hands with water and soap in an effort to curb the spread of the pandemic.
“Each one of us should take personal responsibility as far as prevention of this disease is concerned. Let us adhere to the government directives in regard to the spread of Covid 19 which is claiming our people by the day. The number of fatalities may be low but this should not make us throw caution to the wind and start living recklessly without due diligence on prevention measures,” he pointed out.
To date, Kenya has recorded a total of 33,016 infections, 19,296 recoveries and 564 deaths arising from the Covid 19 pandemic.
Globally, the disease has already claimed more than 800,000 people with 15.6 million recoveries as at August 26.
More than 24 million others have been infected with the virus even as countries work round the clock to find a vaccine for the disease.
Meanwhile a section of traders at the Mbaoni market in Mwala sub county are appealing to the Kenya Power company to help bring to book those behind the vandalism of eight prepaid meters that were stolen from their business premises on Tuesday night.
Speaking to the press yesterday after the incident, the traders said they discovered the theft when they reported for work yesterday morning only to discover the gadgets were missing from a number of premises.
They now want the incident investigated and those behind the vandalism brought to book.
“I am among those who have been affected by this incident. I realized the problem when I opened my shop and on switching on the lights I discovered there was no electricity. When I went to check on my token meter whether I had depleted my prepaid units I realized the gadget was missing,” said Priscah Koki, who runs an Agro-vet shop in the market.
Daniel Mokonza, another businessman who lost his meter in the night Tuesday night incident has called for increased Police patrol in the area to help arrest the situation adding that criminal activities in the market have been on the rise in recent days.
By Samuel Maina
