Rome-Based Kenyan Catholic Priest Accused of Spreading Covid-19 Freed on Sh500,000 Bail

Rome-based Kenyan Catholic priest Richard Oduor has been released on a cash bail of Sh500,000 in a case in which he is charged for failing to self-quarantine over Covid-19.

Father Oduor, who tested positive for Covid-19 last month, was arrested last Thursday after being discharged from a Nairobi hospital after recovering from the infection.

On Tuesday, he was arraigned before Milimani Law Courts Magistrate Martha Nanzushi and charged with knowingly spreading the coronavirus disease. 

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was detained for two days pending a ruling on his bail application.

The court on Thursday freed the accused on Sh500,000 cash bail and directed him to undertake a 14-day self-quarantine at Assisi house on Adams Arcade, which is operated by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Josephs.

Oduor came back to the country from Rome, Italy on March 11th and spent the night in Utawala, Nairobi before travelling to his village in Siaya the following day to preside over the burial of a close relative.

He later traveled to Nairobi where he showed Covid-19 symptoms and was hospitalized with a test showing he was infected with the illness.