• They came back into the country on March 23 and put under what was to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in line with the Covid-19 prevention protocols.
• Today, day 23, they woke up, packed their bags and headed to the gate of Kenyatta University in an attempt to get out of what they now describe as "unbearable and illegal detention."
Image: COURTESY
Some were working as nannies and housekeepers in Qatar before their employers sent them back home without a penny.
They came back into the country on March 23 and put under what was to a 14-day mandatory quarantine in line with the Covid-19 prevention protocols.
Today, day 23, they woke up, packed their bags and headed to the gate of Kenyatta University in an attempt to get out of what they now describe as "illegal and unbearable detention."
And now a stand-off ensues at the quarantine facility with demands for payment from the institution while 25 individuals demand to be let out.
All the 25 Kenyans say they have had their results come back negative twice as required and do not understand why they are being detained.
Speaking to the Star, one of them said that most of the 25 individuals at the facility do not have the means to pay for the cost of quarantine and therefore unable to continue staying there.
They added that they no longer feel safe at the quarantine centres as they now appear as breeding grounds for Covid-19.
"How do you explain the insistence of MOH to continue keeping us here longer even after posting negative status twice? What do they want to achieve? Even if we were positive before we travelled, WHO guidelines require that any person that posts two subsequent negative tests, should be declared free of the virus,” he said.
He added; "We have been in government mandatory quarantine from March 23 when we arrived in the country. Incidentally, we were all on the same flight home. We have faithfully followed the government directive for 14 days quarantine."
Image: COURTESY
Last week several Kenyans being held at the Pride Inn hotel have threatened to sue the government over the mandatory quarantine.
Through their lawyers Mumbi Wekesa and Maranga Advocates, they claimed the government has continued to hold them at the facility against their consent despite having completed the 14-day quarantine period.
As a gesture of goodwill and to illustrate appreciation of the seriousness of this matter, the lawyers said the victims being held at the facility are willing to comply with all guidelines within the confines of the law suggested by the ministry in order to self-quarantine.
Those at KU told the Star that during the 23 days they have been at the facility, the MOH has conducted two Covid-19 tests out of which a total of 6 people tested positive and were immediately isolated.
The rest of the group tested negative. And out of the six positive cases, four have already been discharged from hospital.
"After the first 14 days expired, the government extended quarantine for additional 14 days which expired today. Last week the ministry clearly stated that the second test will result in the closure of the quarantine facilities, those who would turn negative would be released while any positive cases will go to isolation/hospitals. Unfortunately, that has not been the case here," one of them told the Star.
Image: COURTESY
He added; "The 25 of us should be released to rejoin our families immediately since we have tested negative twice. This should be in reference to WHO guidelines on quarantine. We fail to understand what else the government want us to do, and what informs our continued forced detention here”.
They also claimed that since the results of the second negative results, the management of the facility has since selectively discharged three people.
"We do not understand the basis on which the ministry used to discharge the three. Does the government have double standards for discharge from quarantine facilities? We demand that the same standard used to discharge our colleagues be applied to us as well," he said.
According to them, the WHO standards were developed in order to protect citizens from the excesses of a government that may be keen to infringe on the personal liberties of its citizens like is turning out to be in the prevailing circumstances.
Last week, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe had said that the government has resolved to close quarantine facilities across the country.
The CS said the government would no longer keep those who have tested negative of the Covid-19 virus in such facilities.
Kagwe during his daily status briefing at Afya House said those who were being held in the facilities have been allowed to self-isolate in their respective homes.
"By the end of the day we shall have closed Trade Mark and Hill Park hotels because we no longer need to keep those who have tested negative,” he said.
Kagwe said only those who have tested negative on two consecutive tests would be allowed to leave depending on the doctor’s discretion.
“We ask Kenyans not to stigmatise those who have been allowed to join their families but rather receive them with love,” he said.