Kilifi DG arrest: Detectives in long wait as Saburi applies ‘delaying tactics’
Detectives led by Mombasa DCI boss Antony Muriithi are currently camping at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH) ready to arrest Kilifi Deputy Governor (DG) Gideon Saburi who has recovered from covid-19 13 days after testing positive for the virus.
In what appeared like apparent delaying tactics, the DG reportedly requested to be allowed time to take a bath and change his clothing, a move that kept the detectives waiting near the emergency ward for hours to no avail.
Earlier on, Saburi is said to have question the motive of his planned arrest and further demanded to have his lawyer present at the hospital.
He is also said to have demanded to be allowed to change into his right clothing.
Detectives had encountered challenges accessing the isolation ward where the DG had been admitted as they arrived at the hospital with just hand gloves and face masks but without Personal Protective equipment clothing.
However, they later managed to access the ward after the special clothing was provided.
The Kilifi Deputy Governor found himself on the wrong side of the law after jetting back to the country from Germany and defied government directive self quarantine and instead embarked on his normal duties.
He allegedly held cabinet meetings, attended several burials and weddings in Kilifi County where he came into contact with hundreds of residents among them several leaders including MCAs and MPs.
As a result, Saburi is believed to be behind spiking cases of the virus in the county which has so far reported six cases is among the covid-19 hotspots in the country.
A number of people who came into contact with him have also tested positive while several others including leaders and 16 police officers from Kilifi have since gone into self quarantine.
The leaders include Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, Rabai MP William Kamoti, Lands Chief Administrative Secretary Gideon Mung’aro, Mtwapa deputy OCS Bernard Otomei, who developed breathing difficulties yesterday, and Base Commander Mathew Koech.
According to the father of three at the time he travelled to Germany, there were no clear guidelines on self-quarantine and the European nation had not been declared COVID-19 hotspot.
He was quoted as saying that on his return journey he sought medical assessment and was admitted for three days before being cleared of the infection.
But the Kilifi DG is reported to have openly ignored his boss Governor Amason Kingi’s advice to self-quarantine, before he was arrested and put into forced quarantine at the CPGH isolation center in Mombasa.
Earlier Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said once he completes his quarantine and recovers, the DG will be arrested for risking lives of Kenyans.
On Thursday, Kagwe announced the Deputy Governor has recovered and tested negative after three tests adding the law “will now take its course.”
The Kilifi deputy governor has since apologized to the public saying it was not his intention to spread and infect his close contacts with coronavirus.
