The Mountain Journal i
Nanyuki residents have in the last three days watched the skies of large aircrafts flying in a group of three flying into the highly guarded Laikipia Air Base transporting equipment for the Ebola Quarantine and Isolation Facility..
In the last three days, the residents’ eyes glued to the skies as the engines of the three huge helicopters en route from Nairobi to Nanyuki’s Laikipia Air Base roared in the air.
The photos of the planes have flooded the social media platforms as the locals protest the agreement between the Kenya’s and US Governments’ to establish the quarantine and isolatìn facility in Kenya
Immediately the matter came into the limelight, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata castigated the move saying it was uncalled for.
On Friday, Laikipia leaders aired their opposition to the establishment of the facility questioning why the infected Americans were flown from DRC to Nanyuki, in Kenya, instead of airlifted to their motherland for treatment.
They detailed that the facility ought to have been established at the source of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for greater,speedy and efficient management, rather than ferrying the sick.
Governor Joshua Irungu, MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri( Laikipia East), Sara Korere( Laikipia North) , Wachira Karani (Laikipia West) and Jane Kagiri ( Laikipia) opposed the establishment of the facility as they backed the call of the residents.
The MPs questioned why the government was not giving full disclosure of its intentions and why the US administration was against their own people who were infected with Ebola entering their motherland.
“With all the US Government might, both in terms of influence and resources, wouldn’t it be more prudent to set up a full-fledged facility to deal with the outbreak in DRC,” said the MPs in a joint press statement.
The Governor said his office had not been consulted on the matter, arguing that Laikipia was not ready to handle such.
“ The residents have strongly opposed the move calling on the disease to be combated at the source as the health protocol demands,” said Irungu.
Mwangi wa Sammy a resident of Matanya area in Nanyuki led the residents rejected the establishment of the quarantine facility, saying the sick would be better treated at the source.
“ The mention of the establishment of the Ebola Quarantine and Isolation in Nanyuki has forced many of the hotels to lose bookings, with the guests cancelling heir flights to Kenya,” said Mr Mwangi.
