A Kenyan working as a chef in the US on March 23 found himself in forced quarantine after flying into the country to help resolve a land dispute within the outskirts of Thika town.
Francis Njoroge decided to take a flight back home connecting via London to Nairobi after learning that someone had encroached into his three-and-a-half acre inherited piece of land in Kiarutara, outskirts of Thika town.
The chef took a three-week leave to help sort out his land problems now finds himself in a tough dilemma in quarantine, with most government operations suspended and flights in and out of the country banned by the government.
To make things worse for Njoroge, he will not be able to travel to his home in Murang’a to accomplish his mission following the restriction of movement into and out of Nairobi.
“When I left Kansas City in the United States of America, I expected to be back in three weeks. My estimation was that this time was sufficient to sort out the land dispute and be back to my work as a cook.
“I had requested permission for three weeks. I was scheduled to return to the US on April 26. This may be a tall order given that Kenya has banned international flights,” Njoroge told The Standard.
Njoroge together with his fellow passengers learned of the mandatory quarantine requirement through an announcement by the plane's captain after landing at the JKIA.
The unexpected requirement led to a confrontation between them and government officials before finally agreeing to report to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) the following day March 24, at 11 a.m.
Njoroge who turned up at the institution casually clad was shocked after realising that he would not be leaving the facility till after a 14-day monitoring period
“I was shocked to learn that I could not leave the place as I was now under mandatory quarantine. I resisted, insisting that I did not have the money to pay,'' he narrates.
Njoroge was promised to be taken to a government facility with the government incurring all the cost of his quarantine, a promise which he realised was a sham after being required to pay Ksh 28,000 after his 14-day period at the Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete.
“I am supposed to pay Sh28,000 for the 14 days I have spent so far. I am penniless and have to rely on my relatives to send me money even for credit,” Njoroge lamented.
Njoroge is, however, happy to have tested negative for Covid-19 at a facility where four people were found positive.
“I have been tested several times. During my stay, four people at the facility who tested positive were whisked to hospital for treatment."
Njoroge's situation highlights a dilemma in which most Kenyans travelling back from various countries have been caught in, having to contend with slashing a part of their budget to cater for mandatory quarantine to avert the spread of coronavirus within the country.
