An article by Kenyan Times claims that Kakamega County sets aside Kshs 4 million to buy 2 acres of land for the burial of those who succumb to COVID-19 as titled in the screenshot above.
Background
As of July 23, Kenya has a total of 263 COVID-19 related deaths, after recording the highest number of infections in 24 hours, at 796. Some counties are reportedly preparing for the worst as daily cases continue to rise.
In countries such as Brazil where the number of deaths is on the high, mass graves have been witnessed, with others such as South Africa preparing gravesites for potential mass burials as COVID-19 cases in the country continue to spike.
Verification
A search for the keywords ‘Kakamega COVID-19 Graveyard’ yields this report by The Standard dated July 16. Kakamega County Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya was quoted saying:
The Ministry of Health predicted a spike in Covid-19 cases to be in September. Going by what has happened in other countries, we have identified two parcels for mass graves in Kakamega town and in the southern part of the county in case we experience many deaths arising from the virus.
He also added:
Those who would succumb to the virus would not be buried at their ancestral homes but in the two government-owned cemeteries, curb the spread of the disease.
The governor was speaking at the county headquarters during the swearing-in ceremony of three chief officers.
A look at Kakamega County budget documents shows that the county has allocated funds for cemetery construction for the fiscal year 2019/2020 (page 64 under ‘programmes to be implemented’) and not for graveyard land purchase as the article in question claims.
The cemetery construction is part of other planned programmes that have been allocated Kshs 855 million as indicated in the screenshot above.
In another report, Governor Oparanya clarified that the identified land was not meant for COVID-19 mass graves but ‘to supplement the county’s public cemeteries.’
Verdict
The claim that Kakamega County has set aside Kshs 4 million for a COVID-19 graveyard is false.
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