Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has stated that the government's plan to set up an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki will proceed without public participation, indicating that citizens will not be consulted on the matter.
Speaking before the National Assembly on Wednesday, June 3, CS Duale said the urgency of the Ebola threat necessitates swift action. He noted that the government must implement all necessary measures to curb the risk of cross-border transmission and protect public health.
He added that the responsibility falls squarely on the government to protect its citizens.
"Under the Public Health Act, we don’t need to do public participation; we are not going to consult citizens. Even MPs, when they fall sick, rush to the doctor to make sure they get the best treatment. This epidemic does not require any consultation," he stated.
"Tomorrow, God forbid if Ebola is found in this country, this House will call me back here to ask why Kenyans are dying. Before Kenyans are infected, the government has a responsibility to protect them."
The CS also wondered why legislators would reject quarantine facilities to be established in their counties, questioning where infected people would seek medical attention.
"If every county refuses to set up a quarantine facility, where will we treat Kenyans? Are we going to treat them up in the air? We, as the government, have a responsibility," he noted.
"We can still create another isolation center in one of our barracks in any part of the country. The facilities will be used to treat both Kenyans and foreigners. Let’s not politicise it."
He emphasized that the Laikipia facility would be open to both Kenyans and Americans, stressing that access to healthcare services would not be restricted to any group.
According to him, the facility is intended to benefit citizens of both countries. He also pointed out that during the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations, the United States, and other international organizations established a specialized Covid treatment unit at Nairobi Hospital, which did not attract similar criticism at the time.
