Kitui: Priest who defied quarantine rule moved to Mbagathi after getting fever

Father Nicholas Maanzo, a Kitui Catholic priest who jetted into the country from Ireland on Monday has been transferred to Mbagathi Hospital for quarantine.          

“Kitui County Health Officials made after the routine checkup revealed the cleric exhibited fever, coughing and had a headache,” sources said. 

According to the source, who requested anonymity, Fr Maanzo showed signs associated with Covid-19 and was referred to Mbagathi for management as he waits for his test results. 

The priest had vowed to remain in self-quarantine for 14 days as per the government directive to contain the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus. 

He said that he had interacted with his nephew, a relative and his domestic worker. 

Father Maanzo had on Wednesday last week sparked fears among the public in Kitui town after he was seen shopping in a supermarket. 

According to sources, the priest was earlier that day seen at a local ATM withdrawing money. 

He was reported to the health officials in Kitui who together with police forced him to stay in his house as per the Government directives on people arriving in the country from foreign lands to self-quarantine for 14 days.

In a statement sent to the press on Thursday, the soft-spoken elderly priest said that he will comply with the quarantine regulations. 

 “I was tested at JKIA and proceeded to self-isolation at home. However, I ventured out of the house to get food supplies. I regret risking the lives of others,” he said. 

Father Maanzo, a former Kasyala parish priest in Kitui central, arrived in Kenya on Monday, March 23 from Dublin. Ireland where some 2,415 people have been acquired the virus with 36 deaths and 5 recoveries as on Sunday, March 29.

However, he failed to follow the government directives that everyone coming from outside the country must quarantine to avoid the spread of Coronavirus.

He was stationed at St Joseph’s parish in Monaghan, Clogher Diocese. He went to Ireland in September 2019. 

He grew up under the care of Irish missionaries. He was baptised by Kitegan Fathers and confirmed by late Bishop Dunne. 

Father Maanzo was ordained in 1987 as the seventh priest in Kitui.