Govt Announces Quarantine Hotels

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) International Arrival Terminal. Thursday, February 14, 2020
A file image of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) International Arrival Terminal taken on Thursday, February 14, 2020.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

The government on Tuesday, March 24 shared an official list of hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa which are being used to quarantine visitors coming into the country, in line with directives announced by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

The list was shared hours after reports surfaced of visitors complaining over excessive delays and confusion over the order to quarantine all passengers arriving at airports, including the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

Many complained about the perceived display of ill-preparedness, with many travellers kept waiting for hours after clearing with immigration officials before being given the choice of either going into quarantine and footing the bill, at hotels that charge well over Ksh10,000 a night or going into quarantine at designated government facilities such as Mbagathi Hospital in Nairobi.

Passengers pictured at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a disruption on March 6, 2019
Passengers pictured at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) following a disruption on March 6, 2019
Photo
JKIA

Quarantine hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa announced on March 24 include Hill Park Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Nairobi, Safari Park, Pride Inn Hotels, Jacaranda Hotel, Trademark Hotel, Four Points Sheraton, Boma Hotel, KMTC's, Kenyatta University and Kenya School of Government.

Others are Crown Plaza, Airport, Mombasa Beach Hotel, La Mada Hotel, Concord Hotel, University of Nairobi, KCB Leadership Centre, Cooperative University, The Clarion Hotel, The Comfort Hotel, Mashpark Hotel, Eka Hotel and Land Mark Suites.

At a press briefing on Monday, March 23, the health CS had apologised to inconvenienced passengers even as he assured them that better structures had been put in place to allow for proper implementation of the directive.

He called on the hotels selected for the program to cut their accommodation costs by as much as 75% to facilitate the quarantine.

The forced quarantine was announced after the government observed a lack of full compliance with the self-quarantine that had previously been issued.

Speaking on March 24, Kagwe lamented a lack of discipline among Kenyans as he urged them to comply with the directives.

"We are suffering from indiscipline. If we tell you that a matatu should have 8 people but you only do it when the police are watching, it is unfathomable.

"Who are you trying to kill? Yourself or your passengers? This is what we need to ask," Kagwe posed.

At the same briefing, he announced that 9 more cases of the Coronavirus had been confirmed in the country, bringing the total count of 25.

The cases confirmed so far are spread out across four counties; Nairobi, Kilifi, Mombasa and Kwale.

The Kenya School of Government located in Lower Kabete, Nairobi.
The Kenya School of Government located in Lower Kabete, Nairobi.
File