Ebola by force

It has been flatly rejected by Kenyans and even stopped by courts of law but the government pushed ahead to approve setting up of an isolation center to treat Americans infected by the deadly Ebola virus.

In their home country, Americans have declined to admit back home, any of their nationals infected by the Ebola virus, choosing to push them to Kenya and even topping up with billions.

In Kenya, doctors, nurses and clinical officers have opposed the plan to set up an Ebola isolation and treatment centre in the country.

On the ground, in Laikipia County, reports indicate that the holding center is complete, ready to admit first patients.

The governor and elected legislators in the County have scorned the medical installation, questioning the motive of the national government for selecting their region as a holding center.

This comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of quick spread of the virus that has killed more than 246 people with over 1,000 infections.

A statement from White House the Donald Trump administration yesterday discussed the matter with President William Ruto.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Secretary said the US would commit $13.5 million (Sh1.7 million) toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts. The super power state has already committed to providing $112 million (Sh14.5 billion) in bilateral assistance to the regional response.

In protecting its citizens, White House maintained that the U.S. will not allow any case to spill to the country.

"The United States’ highest priority remains protecting the health and security of the American people by working to prevent the Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores," added the statement.

In Kenya, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musali Mudavadi admitted that Ebola virus is a great threat but added; "We should not pretend that we may not be required to help in the coordination of an international original response." 

And as the debate rages, The Saturday Standard understands that the facility is operational, and that two U.S. Air Force flew to Laikipia Airbase in Nanyuki
The 50-bed facility is expected to serve Americans exposed to Ebola Bundibugyo virus, circulating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

This happens even as the Kenyan court ordered temporary suspension of ​a plan, arguing the facility could endanger public health (See separate story).

But Governor Joshua Irungu denied any knowledge of the facility. “I am not aware of plans to establish a quarantine center in Laikipia, I am only reading through media outlets. Health being a devolved function, I expected that such an agreement would not be implemented without my input. My stand is that we shall not allow such a facility to be established in this county as it exposes our people.”

County elected leaders and residents have also rejected the move.

Yesterday, area MPs issued a stern statement, telling the State to stop the plan. "The people of Laikipia and Kenya at large deserve full transparency from the National Government on this matter," said the leaders in a statement signed by four***** MPs from the county.

Former area Woman Rep Cate Waruguru warned that yesterday's court ruling must be respected.

“Kenyan jurisprudence has repeatedly emphasized that state actions affecting citizens’ health, safety, land use, and environmental rights must satisfy constitutional thresholds of transparency, legality, and public accountability,” said the chairperson of DCP Women League.

More doctors also weighed in, warning that the country is not prepared to safely handle the deadly virus.

They accused the Ministry of Health of pushing ahead with the proposal without consulting healthcare workers, county governments, hospital managers or private healthcare providers.

Dr Clarence Eboso on behalf of the doctors, said Kenya risks exposing its population to a disease the country has managed to keep out since Ebola was first discovered in 1976.

“Our doctors and nurses and health workers in general do not know how to manage Ebola,” he said, adding that only a small number of specialists in the country have received Ebola-specific training.

Earlier, the  Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) had threatened a national wide strike, issuing a 48 hours’ notice if details of the agreement are not revealed.

"If there was a quarantine being set up for Kenyans, I don't think Kenyans would be mad, but if there silence over the matter, it raises so much concern," said KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah.

More concerning according to the union is measures by U.S. to avoid a spill on Ebola in their country, yet Kenya has easily gotten into a deal of having a facility set up in Laikipia.

Kenya according to doctors has an already strained health workers and health system that cannot afford to man an very highly infectious disease-Ebola.

"Pandemics are managed by controlling spread from where it is because when you get someone infected in DRC, and bring him to Kenya, what makes Kenya not being epi-center of the same because you import the disease. This is bringing the disease in another aspect," said Dr Atellah.

KMPDU dismissed Medical Health PS Ouma Oluga statements that preparations and stringent measures have been put in place, including the raining of at least 2,200 health workers.

“There are so much rhetorics with no action. I am not seeing any preparation. We have been talking about shortage of healthcare in this country, drugs not being in hospital, equipment, ICU facilities- these things are not rhetorical, these are realities," said Atellah.

Kenya Obstetric and Gynaecological Society has also opposed the move.

"If we had to do a reverse, for example, we take Kenyans to the U.S. or to another country  which will cater for only Kenyans, I do not think it would be possible. We need to think through this because I am not sure it's a good collaboration, but I am not qualified to give a strong stand, but looking at it, from gynaecological ,point of view," observed the president, Kireki Omanwa.

He emphasized that Ebola is lethal and would disrupt Kenyan fragile health system.