Ebola in Kenya: Gachagua raises possibility of lockdown
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Tuko
Former Kenyan Vice-President Rigathi Gachagua says he was told the government was considering a lockdown linked to the Ebola outbreak. He also questioned whether the outbreak was real, while the Ministry of Health had confirmed seven cases and two deaths since 6 October, Tuko reports.
Former Kenyan Vice-President Rigathi Gachagua says he received conflicting information about a possible lockdown in Kenya linked to Ebola. During an interview with KTN News, he also questioned whether the outbreak was real, Tuko reports.
Gachagua said some people had presented the outbreak to him as a pretext to obtain international funding or halt political campaigns. Others had reportedly told him that the disease was real and that the authorities’ response was irresponsible.
On 18 October, Kenya’s Ministry of Health ruled out the possibility of a lockdown, travel restrictions or bans on gatherings. It said at the time that seven Ebola cases and two deaths had been recorded since the disease was reported on 6 October, and that early detection and quarantine measures were in place.
Gachagua’s remarks come as the Kenya Red Cross has strengthened its teams in Nairobi in response to the outbreak (the Red Cross response is being strengthened). On 21 October, Ouma Oluga called for a coordinated response by the authorities (his call for coordination).
