Nairobi, September 9

Former Kakamega Senator and outspoken politician, Bonny Khalwale, has asked Kenyans to ignore the conspiracy theories being floated on the effects of Covid-19 vaccines.

Mr Khalwale, who revealed that his family got vaccinated in March this year, disclosed that no side effects had been experienced by any of them, despite reports from anti-vaxxers indicating people suffered acute or severe side effects once vaccinated.

“In March, my friend, classmate and age mate, Prof Khainga and I, got ourselves and our families vaccinated against Covid-19,” he stated.

Mr Khalwale, in a light approach, sought to dismantle the disinformation being fueled by a section of those opposed to the vaccines locally and globally.

“Six months on, none of our wives or daughters has grown a beard. Neither have we grown any horns.”

Mr Khalwale, a medical doctor by training, noted the vaccines are safe and effective.

 “We thank God. Forget the conspiracy theories. Vaccination is safe and effective,” he concluded.

His remarks come as the country struggles to administer vaccines to the ballooning population, with less than two percent having received both jabs as recommended by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Kenya and its African peers are still lagging behind in rolling out the vaccination, associating the low uptake of the jab with insufficient supply as well as rising cases of misinformation and disinformation.

In a separate incident, the government through the Ministry of Health under Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, has sounded an alarm following reports that a section of rogue medics are administering mineral water to patients, disguising it as Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The government noted that a number of Kenyans might have been vaccinated using the mineral water unknowingly.