Raila, Esipisu visit Governor Joyce Laboso in UK hospital

Politician Raila Odinga, Kenya’s High Commissioner to the UK Manoah Esipisu, Chief Justice David Maraga and Kericho Governor Paul Chepkwony have visited Bomet Governor Joyce Laboso at a London hospital.

Dr Laboso is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

She left for the United Kingdom on Wednesday, the same day her office confirmed months of public speculation that she had been unwell.

On its Facebook page, the National Super Alliance shared pictures of Mr Odinga, leader Orange Democratic Movement, and Mr Esipisu visiting Dr Laboso.

“They wished the governor quick recovery,” the opposition coalition said.

It was the first time pictures of Dr Laboso in hospital were shared publicly.

HIGH SPIRITS

Justice Maraga, whose engagement in the United Kingdom was not immediately clear, was accompanied by his wife Yucabeth Nyaboke.

In pictures sent to the Nation from London, he is seen shaking hands with Dr Laboso next to her hospital bed.

On Maraga’s left is Dr Laboso’s husband, Mr Edwin Abonyo, while at the back is their son Brian Abonyo.

In another picture, Prof Chepkwony is seen visiting the governor accompanied by unidentified Kenyans.

“The governor is recovering and is in high spirits. Let us continue praying for her full recovery,” he said on social media.

LONGABSENCE

Before departing for London, Dr Laboso had not been seen at her office and in the public for more than three weeks, fuelling speculation about her ailment.

The governor was last seen in public on May 3 when she launched the county's 150km roads project in Sotik.

Dr Laboso skipped the annual general meeting for the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) branch Bomet on May 11, the Chief of Staff saying it was because of an engagement organised earlier.

She has previously sought medical care in the United Kingdom, United States and India.

Amid the speculation, reports indicated that Dr Laboso had left the country a few days before May 11 but her office did not say where she had travelled to and why.

A week later, snippets of information indicated that she jetted back into the country a few days later but had been keeping a low profile and skipping all public engagements.

Dr Laboso's close aides said she was at her residence in Nairobi while others indicated she was at her rural home in Sotik. Some of her supporters said she was down with the flu.

COUNTY OPERATIONS

There had been no official statement until Wednesday afternoon, when the governor's office said Dr Laboso had handed her duties over to her deputy and would be seeking treatment abroad.

“During her four-week absence, Deputy Governor Hillary Barchok will hold brief for her. Dr Barchok will be assisted by County Secretary Evalyne Rono and Chief of Staff Jayne Sigilai,” said a brief statement from the county's Director of Communications Mr Ezra Kirui.

The cause of ailment was, however, not disclosed.

Dr Laboso’s administration sought to allay fears that the county's operations would be affected by her absence.

“The governor assures Bomet residents and stakeholders that the running of government functions and activities will continue with no interruption,” Mr Kirui said in the statement.