Instagram | @mike.sonko / @chef_dalton_oconnell

Kenya Governor Slammed For Putting Hennessy Bottles In COVID-19 Care Packs

Updated September 8, 2021

A governor in Kenya has recently come under fire after announcing his plans to include "small bottles" of Hennessy cognac in coronavirus care packages, CNN reported.

Mike Sonko, governor of Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, presented the plans during a media briefing on Tuesday where he explained the alcohol was intended to be used as "throat sanitizer."

Information about the coronavirus pandemic is rapidly changing and Diply is committed to providing the most recent data as it becomes available. Some of the information in this story may have changed since publication, and we encourage readers to use online resources from CDC and WHO to stay up to date on the latest information surrounding COVID-19.

In a clip tweeted by Citizen TV Kenya, Sonko defends his decision and cites research from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"I think from the research conducted by the World Health Organization and various organizations, it has been believed that alcohol plays a major role in killing the coronavirus," he explains before going on to discuss the alcohol content in hand sanitizer.

As of writing, that clip has been viewed more than 100,000 times.

In the comments, users are blasting Sonko for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.

“Is he serious," one user wrote. “I can’t believe it, I still have to replay that video for the 10th time, did he say Hennessy kills COVID-19 if you drink?”

Another added, "I won't say much for now because he's actually helping people, but I feel embarrassed on his behalf."

On Tuesday, the same day Sonko announced his Hennessy plans, WHO released a post explictly stating alcohol does not protect against the coronavirus.

"Fear and misinformation have generated a dangerous myth that consuming high-strength alcohol can kill the COVID-19 virus," the post reads. "It does not."

In fact, the organization said consumption of alcohol can actually weaken a person's health making them more susceptible to disease, like the novel coronavirus.

Dr. Githinji Gitahi, CEO of the nonprofit Amref Health Africa, condemned Sonko on Twitter.

“Please completely ignore clowning of a major global pandemic taking lives & putting extreme pressure on households,” he wrote, imploring Kenyans to dump the alcohol inexplicably included in their food packs.

"Dump this the way you would dump your used #COVID19 #mask - never to be recovered!"

h/t: CNN, WHO

Filed Under: