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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ruled out Kenya hosting foreigners for Ebola quarantine to help them meet entry requirements imposed by their home countries.
Duale said no foreign government would be allowed to use Kenya as a holding centre for passengers who need to complete quarantine before returning home.
Speaking during an Ebola outbreak update at Afya House in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 11, the CS maintained that Kenya would not facilitate such arrangements or issue documents certifying that foreign travellers were Ebola-free.
Duale announces discharge of last Ebola patient, reveals date Kenya could be declared Ebola-free
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The CS also criticised countries that had imposed blanket travel and visa restrictions on Kenyan travellers following the country's Ebola outbreak.
He argued that Kenya had been transparent in reporting infections, sharing surveillance data and keeping its borders open in accordance with international health requirements.
The CS maintained that Kenya remained open for business, tourism, trade and international travel, with no restrictions on domestic movement or public gatherings.
Duale's remarks have also drawn attention to the controversial United States-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki.
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The proposed 50-bed bio-isolation centre was designed to accommodate American citizens exposed to Ebola while working in affected countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project sparked protests and legal challenges, with the High Court issuing orders temporarily blocking its establishment and operation, including the admission of Ebola-exposed individuals under the disputed arrangement.
In October, the US government said the facility was ready to receive patients but had no occupants. Seven American disaster response workers had reportedly completed their mandatory 21-day quarantine and been discharged.
Asked about the future of the Nanyuki facility, Duale declined to comment, saying the matter was before the courts.
The announcement came after Kenya discharged its last Ebola patient and released the final 11 contacts from quarantine. The country is set to begin a 42-day countdown on November 12 and could be declared Ebola-free on or about December 23 if no new infections are recorded.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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