‘Please Forgive Me’, Kilifi Deputy Governor Saburi Begs for Spreading Coronavirus

Kilifi Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi, who is presently in isolation after he tested positive for coronavirus, has apologized for spreading the disease.

Saburi, who admitted to having defied the government’s directive requiring all people returning from abroad to self-quarantine for 14 days, says he is remorseful and has pleaded with residents of Kilifi to forgive him for his reckless actions.

“I am very remorseful for bringing anxiety on Coronavirus spread in Kilifi County and the entire country and hope that people will find a heart to forgive me,” said Saburi as quoted by Daily Nation.

“I am a responsible person. I am a leader, a family man and a mentor to many. I did not do this on purpose,” he added.

He went further to admit responsibility for the spread of COVID-19 in Kilifi, which has now been classified as a hotspot for the virus.

Saburi, who had traveled to Germany and came back on March 6th, said he interacted with Governor Amason Kingi, mourners in different funerals and also shopped at an undisclosed supermarket. He flew back from Berlin via Amsterdam.

He added that after returning from Germany, he went to Mombasa Hospital for a checkup and was admitted for three days before doctors cleared him to go home.

After he was discharged, he self-isolated for three more days before embarking on his normal duties. He adds that by the time he came back, Germany had not been marked as a coronavirus hotspot.

“I attended funerals to condole with bereaved families and other gatherings in my rural home in Rabai bearing in mind the nature of my job and position in society. My governor had cleared me to attend the fair, the county secretary gave me a letter confirming the same.  I have two residences in Mombasa where I live with my children and spouse. I went to a supermarket to buy food stocks and that is when I was accused of disregarding the quarantine order,” said Saburi.

Governor Kingi, several Kilifi County staff and 17 police officers who arrested him for defying quarantine directive are currently in isolation.

"Coronavirus is real. I call upon people to take precaution seriously,” Saburi warned Kenyans.

As of Saturday, Kenya had confirmed 38 cases of Covid-18 with Nairobi leading with 28 infections followed by Kilifi (6), Mombasa (2), while Kajiado and Kwale have one each.