A tweep shared the video below showing 3 people in white protective clothing zipping up a man in a white body bag, which is characteristic of how COVID-19 bodies are being handled. Curious onlookers can be seen in the clip and a police vehicle as well.
#NgiriciKickedOut COVID-19 claims a life in Witeithie. The gentleman drove himself to the clinic but didn't make it. May his Soul Rest In Peace #JoanChallenge pic.twitter.com/qhf43KCaDi
— Adede Adede (@adedeadedeh) July 7, 2020
The video was also widely shared on WhatsApp alongside similar claims as seen in the screenshot below:
Background
Kenya has so far recorded over 10,000 positive COVID-19 cases and nearly 200 deaths (see up-to-date figures here).
There has been criticism over how the dead bodies are being handled and a big change in how burials are conducted.
In April, Siaya County was under fire after the hasty burial of James Oyugi Onyango a 59-year-old man who succumbed to COVID-19. Another hurried burial was reported in Taita Taveta in June.
Now that cessation of movement in the most affected areas has been lifted and the daily confirmed cases have been increasing, there is a lot of suspicion as well as doubts on the existence of the virus in Kenya.
Verification
A keyframe from the clip clearly shows a clinic as mentioned in the claim. Google Maps shows that Joyland Medical Clinic, which is where the incident took place, is along Muramati Road in Juja town in Kiambu county.
According to a report dated July 9, 2020, by the Daily Nation, the man in the video has since been identified as a taxi driver called James Maina and he was found dead in his car.
“The taxi driver died outside a clinic, having spent the whole Saturday night in the car with all windows rolled up and doors locked,” the report reads, in part.
Though the man died in his vehicle, the cause of death is yet to be known. The body handlers were only taking precautions, which is what created a scene.
Verdict
The cause of death of James Maina is yet to be determined and therefore any claims that he died of COVID-19 should be treated as FALSE.
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