Kenyans in a quarantine facility at the Kenyatta University have staged demonstrations against the government after stating that they were frustrated by the state of isolation and their efforts to raise issues were futile.
On Wednesday, April 15, Kenyans.co.ke spoke to an insider at the camp who detailed argued that they had enough reasons to force the government into listening to their requests.
According to the source, one apposite matter aligned to the huge bills they were charged as their quarantine period had been extended by a fortnight after an individual at the facility tested positive.
"We are asked to pay for two more weeks yet we are not in a position to pay. Why are they holding us for extra days, without even considering our mental health? We are stressed. There is a lady who wanted to commit suicide because her bill is high and her father too is ill and hospitalised, and similarly, his bill has also skyrocketed.
"Right now to source for money is quite exhausting. Some of us lost our jobs abroad and came back home, yet they can't consider that," the insider lamented.
She went on to argue that the health workers had shown bias towards those in quarantine by releasing individuals based on special cases, yet others were left to languish in the facility.
"Three people were released, basing on one being over 65 years and two had diabetes. As much as we understand that they are more vulnerable to this disease, we also have pointers they can analyse. This is total bias.
"When our tests are taken, our results are not handed back to us. They only come at a later stage to inform you that you tested positive or negative. We are also exposed because if someone tests positive and we are not informed, how would we know if there was an interaction with him or her. And if there is a positive outcome again, shall we continue quarantine for another 14 days?" she wondered.
She further stated that they had never managed to raise their issue with the government as efforts to reach officials were futile. The only way to attract their attention as their plan is to demonstrate inside the university, as they would not be allowed to get out and protest in the streets.
"We feel like the quarantine facilities are gaining exorbitantly from this crisis, yet we are not allowed to see our family members, the food we are being given is pathetic too. Imagine feeding on Ugali and rice, with no stew. What kind of meal is that?
"There is a time we were served rotten fish. This is too hard on us," she explained as she detailed during the demonstration, they were observing social distance and wearing masks at all times.
On Wednesday, April 8, 32 out of 66 passengers who were in forced quarantine at a facility in El Wak, Mandera County after travelling from Nairobi escaped. Police were accused of colluding with the passengers who were put in forced quarantine to enable them to sneak into Mandera after the partial lockdown restricting movement into and out of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area was imposed.
On Saturday, March 28, while addressing the media at Afya House, Nairobi, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe stated that mandatory quarantine should be observed as a safe haven, rather than a chance for one to raise complains.
"Mandatory quarantine is not forced quarantine… What we expect when you are in mandatory quarantine is cooperation with the medical staff, security staff. Understand you are not quarantined because you have committed an offence. You should be very happy to be in quarantine because it means you cannot pass on the disease if you have it," the CS stated.
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