Tension at estate in Athi River over Chinese nationals who landed at JKIA

There was tension at Sidai estate in Athi River on Thursday after some Chinese citizens who landed in Nairobi were spotted wearing face masks.

They are reportedly part of the 239 passengers who landed aboard China Southern Airlines and were told to quarantine themselves after authorities cleared them to enter the country.

“The residents here are in panic and we have no idea, we have kids and can easily be a big blow to all of us.

“If these people are supposedly to be on self-quarantine, why are they outside walking around an estate with over 100 houses?” reads a text message from one of the residents who asked to be kept anonymous.

According to him, some of them were wearing face masks while others were not.

He concluded his message pleading with the Kenyan Government to intervene so that they are not put at risk.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged Chinese man has been put on quarantine at Sidai estate for further medical checkups.

According to Athi River Deputy County commissioner David Juma, the man jetted in to Kenya this week from his home country and started feeling unwell.

Medical officers from national and county government are said to be attending to the patient.

The Daily Nation reported that public health officials from Machakos County also went to the estate and had to intervene to prevent one landlord from evicting the Chinese citizens.

It was also reported that Athi River has a high population of Chinese citizens because of the proximity to construction sites where they work.

The clearance of 239 Chinese citizens at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Wednesday has sparked outrage from several quarters.

Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina said: “It is absolutely reckless and wrong for Kenya to ignore the seriousness of Noval Corona Virus.”

Kenya Human Rights Commission Board Chairperson Makau Mutua opined that: “It’s very likely that major global airlines — KLM, British Airways, Air France, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa — may stop flying to Nairobi now that Kenya has allowed the resumption of direct flights from China. KQ may also be banned from flying to New York and Europe.”

This is getting out of hand, one flight in weekly? How naive is our government to believe people who have been in quarantine will “self-quarantine” once in a country where they can move around freely. #CoronavirusinKenya

— Anita Nderu (@AnitaNderu) February 28, 2020

Take immediate action Dear Mr. President #UhuruKenyatta. This disease can wipe us out from the face of the Earth! #coronavirusInkenya #CoronaVirusUpdates #COVID2019 #WajingaNyinyi pic.twitter.com/PlF8p2QTH6

— Opondo (@OpondoTiger) February 27, 2020

https://twitter.com/NderuiMisheck/status/1233260493776859136?s=20

To the ministry of health,to the ministry of foreign affairs and jkia #coronavirusInkenya pic.twitter.com/qQTTx2YIh9

— Simba mfalme (@mfalme_simba) February 28, 2020

Additional report from Titus Muli