Kenya’s seat of power, the State House, last week reported that several workers at the principal presidential office and residence had tested positive for Covid-19.

The announcement by State House spokesperson Kanze Dena came about a week after South Sudan reported that at least 10 of its cabinet members had tested positive for the virus, while famous musicians Manu Dibango of Cameroon and Aurlus Mabele of DR Congo succumbed to the disease.

Top politicians, musicians and business executives have tested positive for the virus in Algeria, South Africa, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Burundi, Rwanda, Cameroon and Kenya.

In Kenya, four State House officials have tested positive for the virus, while a former MP Margaret Wanjiru was taken ill but has since fully recovered.

“It is not only in Africa, but also in India, Brazil, and Latin America and in 18 states in the USA, where the virus is going up,” said Alfred Odhiambo Otieno, a consultant radiologist at the University of Nairobi.