Kenyan Catholic Priest Who Defied Quarantine Order After Arriving from Abroad Taken Ill

A Catholic priest who had defied the government’s order to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving in Kenya from abroad has reportedly been taken to the hospital with coronavirus-like symptoms.

Father Nicholas Maanzo from Kitui County was transferred to Nairobi’s Mbagathi Hospital isolation ward after he showed Covid-19 signs, Citizen Digital reported on Sunday.

The clergyman returned to the country from Ireland via Italy on Monday, March 23rd and was seen freely roaming in Kitui town a few days after his arrival.

Kitui Central Sub-county DCI head Nzioka Singi said the priest was advised to self-isolate for 14 days but was on Tuesday night spotted at a local bank ATM and supermarket, raising fears among local residents.

The following day, police and Kitui County health officers went to his house and forced him self-quarantine. Mr. Singi said Father Maanzo did not show any signs of illness at the time, adding that he apologized and admitted to having defied quarantine and posing a risk to residents. He explained that he went out of the house to shop since he did not have any food.

“We visited him to establish why he flouted the self-quarantine rules. He has explained that he did not have any food and therefore ventured out to look for food,” Singi said.

Last week, a Rome-based Catholic priest who also jetted back into the country from Italy and presided over a funeral service in Siaya County reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.