The United States has warned Kenya of a looming terror attack if lab germs, stored in different health facilities and research institutes around the country, are not secured correctly.
The warning was issued through the Ministry of Health Expenditure Framework for the years 2019 to 2022.
In the document, the US raised concerns that the pathogens stored unsecured may accidentally fall into the wrong hands, posing a great threat to the community.
“Kemri has multiple biological organisms and other material stored in many labs (In Fridges and frozen in nitrogen chambers) within the institute. These pose a great threat to the community as organisms can accidentally, by purpose or by natural disaster, leak to the community and cause havoc,” part of the report read.
They went ahead to point out that the poorly secured pathogens were a disaster waiting to happen if, by any chance, terrorists got hold of them.
“Terrorists can also use them for their evil intention. We, therefore, take this project seriously,” the document continued.
Through the Defence Threat Reduction Agency, the US government recommended the speedy construction of a secure storage facility at the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
Under an agreement between the two countries, U.S offered to foot 90 per cent of the construction while the Kenyan Government Installs the relevant security details including CCTV facilities
If Kenya fails to take into account the secure storage of these pathogens, it would mean that the country would be prone to biological attacks that would result to mass death, the spread of deadly contagious diseases and societal disruption.
In May 2016, the Police were reported to have nabbed a terror group linked to the Islamic state that was plotting to release the deadly anthrax virus to different parts of the country.
