Kenyans Up in Arms as Gov’t Allows Chinese Flights to Land in Nairobi amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Kenyans on social media have been angered by the government’s decision to allow Chinese flights to land in Kenya in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

This was after it emerged that a China Southern Airlines flight carrying 239 passengers landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday.

All the passengers were cleared of the virus and advised to quarantine themselves for 14 days, the Ministry of Health said. On Thursday, government spokesperson Col. Cyrus Oguna defended the decision saying there was no cause for alarm.

“Those people coming from China have been screened. Nobody gets on a plane without screening to ensure they are not at risk,” said Oguna.

“This is to ensure that everybody is safe. Those who leave the airport are expected to self-quarantine. These are precautionary measures to ensure that nobody is put at risk of infection.” 

But Kenyans online heard none of it, questioning the government’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens. The virus has so far killed 2,770 and infected over 80,000 others.

@joannekuria tweeted: “This country can drive you bonkers!! The ineptitude of the Kenyan Government regarding the #coronaviruskenya is ridiculous. And what on earth is self-quarantine? What is this insatiable financial drive that blinds us from protecting the lives and health of Kenyans!”

@nick_nimrod wrote: “#coronaviruskenya Just imagine china with all the first-class resources they haven’t managed to contain the virus from spreading for a whole two months …now imagine how long it will take Kenya …how long Nairobi will be a ghost town …how bad the economy will hit us …scary.”

@KitoiO posed: “Kenyan students are stuck in China, the task force saying they can’t be brought back because of risks of infection. Yet, a plane carrying 239 people from the second most hit region in China is allowed in. Most of them being Chinese. We are all dead!”

@RmMuriithi noted: “As I mentioned someone is stepping all over our sovereignty. Fear looms in fear of chaos win. This government won’t protect its own people…maybe just maybe it’s time we protected ourselves. We must demand as people. We must fight!”

@Owiyoerick said: “The Government of Kenya is inept, the president is sold out to China and everyone else in his administration have no idea what’s happening.”

Felix Regera wrote: “This Video of China Southern Plane landing on JKIA breaks my hearts and makes me kneel and Pray for Only God can help us! This Virus has shaken some of the mighty countries like Italy and France yet we are still joking about it! What wrong with Kenya???”