Oxygen deficiency could be the main cause of the increase in Covid-19 deaths in Kenya, at least that is the belief of some experts from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), as reported by the national daily Daily Nation yesterday.
Studying 128 recent cases of deaths in hospitals in the country due to the virus, it was found that the predominant cause was the transformation of the blood due to lack of oxygenation, and this happened even in cases that were not defined as severe, and therefore easily treatable with normal oxygen therapy. 
The study, published in the Stem Cell Report, shows that many Kenyan patients, even those who were not hospitalised, suffered from hypoxia, a potentially dangerous condition in which there is a lack of oxygenation in the body's tissues.
While Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe continues to point out that health facilities are almost at breaking point and that Kenyans should strictly observe control measures to avoid getting to the point of needing hospitalisation, he reminds us that oxygen is the virus' salvation.
Researchers and infectivologists attribute the increasing number of serious cases to poor adherence to safety protocols, which is causing an increase in infections, but admit that the number may be rising due to the state of emergency in health facilities. However, there is no credible evidence that the Indian delta variant is behind the increase in deaths in Kenya. After the 32 deaths on Friday 6 August, 29 more deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 4 117.
There are 1,205 official new cases, evidenced by 8,158 swabs taken, with the positivity rate down slightly from the last three days to 14.8%.
In terms of cures, 1,242 patients have emerged from the ordeal of the disease, including 1,069 from the home isolation and treatment programme and 173 from various health facilities across the country.
This now brings the total number of cures to 197,029, including 157,849 from the home isolation and treatment programme and 39,180 from various health facilities.
A total of 1,650 patients are currently admitted to various health facilities across the country, while 7,771 are under the home isolation and care programme.
The number of patients in intensive care is falling (also an effect of the almost 100 deaths in 3 days). There are now 109, of whom 46 are on ventilator support and 56 on supplementary oxygen. Seven patients are under observation.