Coronavirus: Scare as 32 people escaped from Mandera quarantine facility

The 32 individuals were arrested from Mandera-bound bus from Nairobi and ordered to quarantine at Elwak for 14 days.

 County executive Ahmed Sheikh confirmed the development in a complaint letter addressed Mandera south deputy county commissioner - The county attributed the disappearance to laxity and lack of corporation on the part of the administrator Efforts to contain spread of cronavirus in Mandera county has received a major setback after 32 people broke out from a quarantine facility. 

The county government said the escapees were some of the passengers who travelled from Nairobi on Friday, April 10, in contravention of government cessation of movement order. 

In a letter addressed to Mandera south deputy county commissioner Abdihakim Dubat, county's executive Ahmed Sheikh blamed the police for the incident, NTV reported. 

I write to register our displeasure with the manner in which 32 people out of 66 passengers disappeared from quarantine facilities under the watch of police officers. It appears a few elements within the security system are yet to understand the seriousness of this campaign against coronavirus, Ahmed said. 

However, the county commissioner Onesmus Kytha defended his deputy against accusations of laxity saying it was not Ahmed's responsibility to keep track on quarantined individuals. “There is a multi-agency team dealing with coronavirus in Mandera and it is not true that Ahmed released people from quarantine. We have launched investigations into the matter and action will be taken against whoever will be found liable,” he said. 

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The diver of Makka bus which had 61 passengers, was arrested at Elwak whereupon police officers placed him under forced quarantine for 14 days on their expenses. 

We are holding a driver we suspect has been involved in transportation of passengers from Nairobi despite the government’s directives. We shall charge him, Kyatha confirmed then. 

The county commissioner said the bus company had continued to disregard ban on inter-county travels despite the county confirming two cases thus endangering lives of many. On Tuesday, April 14, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi confirmed Mandera county had six positive cases out of the total 216 in Kenya. Currently, 22 counties out 47 have been affected by the infection. 

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