NAIROBI (April 27): A top scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has been demoted for failing to provide COVID-19 sample results to the Health Ministry on time, Anadolu Agency reported.

According to local media Sunday, Dr. Joel Lutomiah has been asked to resume his role as a research scientist at the institute’s Centre for Virus Research, where he was serving as director.

He also served as chairman of the KEMRI Rapid Response team.

Kenya’s Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe instructed KEMRI Director-General Yeri Kombe to remove Lutomiah from his position with immediate effect.

According to the Daily Nation newspaper, a letter to Lutomiah on the delayed submission of COVID-19 results said that “You, therefore, have failed in your duty to honour a matter that is of very serious national importance. I hereby relieve you of your duties as the Director, Centre for Virus with immediate effect.”

While announcing 12 more cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the national tally to 355, the Health Ministry defended Lutomiah’s dismissal, saying the move was due to how sensitive the matter is.

Ministry of Health Chief Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman told a nationally televised media briefing that “whatever decisions that were made were in line with streamlining and improving the coordination of test results being received in good time.”

Lutomiah has over 40 years’ experience in entomology, parasitology, pandemic influenza and arbovirology.

Kenya has recorded 14 deaths and 106 recoveries so far from the coronavirus.

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