Foreign affairs PS Kamau forced to self quarantine after US trip

Foreign affairs PS Macharia Kamau has been forced to self quarantine after his trip from New York.

"Following return from New York City on official business and the presidential directive on self quarantine I have restricted my movements," he said.

Kamau said he has taken up work from home.

"Today is day 5 of 14. We should all do the right thing on self quarantine, monitoring and social distancing," he said.

"Self Quarantine is interesting. Made me appreciate our amazing technology in Kenya," Kamau said.

He noted that Kenya has excellent Wi-Fi and Internet connectivity.

"We can use WhatsApp, Wechat, tencent tech, Zoom and Microsoft teams etc. on our phones away from office, remain connected and enjoy our great weather," he said.

Health CS Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday said that Kenyans should self quarantine in case they traveled or they face jail.

The self quarantine takes 14 days before the symptoms of coronavirus fully show up.

The virus has so far killed about 7,000 people globally and infected thousands. Kenya has confirmed seven cases.

The CS said suspected cases will no longer be quarantined at Mbagathi or Kenyatta National Hospital but at the Kenya Medical Research Institute campuses.

Earlier, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that Kenya will overcome the crisis.

Last month, Kamau termed as “short-sighted, careless and xenophobic” Kenyans who have raised the red flag about the government’s handling of the deadly coronavirus.

In a strongly worded communique confidentially shared with Ministry’s top officials, Macharia hit out at critics saying coronavirus is “not the first global epidemic and is not the most deadly.”

The message seen by the Star was shared by the PS on a WhatsApp group of senior officials, including Kenya’s diplomats abroad.