A top official in Kenya’s health ministry has died of Covid-19, reports indicated on Thursday, August 13.

The death of Kamau Mugenda who was the second in charge at Kenya Medical Research Institute - which oversees the country’s Covid-19 testing and vaccine trials programme, is the fourth. Reports indicate that at least three other Kenyan front-line healthcare workers – a doctor and two nurses - have succumbed to the virus.

More than 450 workers in the health ministry are reported to have contracted the deadly disease.

More than 28,100 people have been infected and 456 people succumbed to the virus in the country while 14, 610 recovered.

On March 31, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Treasury to set up an emergency response kitty for Covid-19.

Funds diverted

Kenyan media has reported that corrupt officials ensured that Covid-19 funds were either diverted, misapplied, or misappropriated, with fingers pointed at the cartels within the Ministry of Health, among others.

Healthcare workers in Kenya have threatened to go on industrial strike due to lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Authorities are investigating the disappearance of millions worth of equipment and monies donated to help stop the spread of Covid-19.