Kenya: Impending Disaster As West Africans Flood In At Busia, Malaba Border Posts
By Staff Writer
Nationals from West African countries struck by the Ebola virus which has killed hundreds have found ways of getting into Kenya through Busia and Malaba border points, since the government banned flights to and from entering the country through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In the past week alone, 122 people from Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria have transited to Kenya through the two border towns, according to immigration officials at the border points.
Dr Ambrose Fwamba, a public health officer, on Tuesday August 19 raised the alarm calling for more surveillance and measures following an influx in number of travelers transiting through Busia border point.
Fwamba said, the high number was an indication of how the two border points are porous and were high risk areas.
He said travelers from the affected West African countries had either arrived or exited through the two border towns in western Kenya region bordering Uganda.
“The situation is not good at all, as the county and national governments need to intervene as a matter of urgency to ensure that security personnel are posted along the porous borders to check on the influx of foreigners along unauthorized routes,” he said.
Fwamba said a six-bed emergency ward had been installed at the Malaba Health Centre and specific staff had been identified to be on standby for any possible outbreak.
He called on residents at the border to be vigilante, responsible and cooperate with the authorities in identifying strangers entering the country.
The health officer said it would not be possible to prevent people arriving through the border from the affected countries because that would be against the East African Community integration, which encourages free movement among their citizens.
Sospeter Ojaamong, Busia Governor, said his government had put in place adequate measures to deal with any likely Ebola outbreak.
With the cancellation of flights by Kenya Airways to and from Ebola-hit West African countries, passengers are using the Entebbe Airport in Uganda and entering Kenya through either Busia or Malaba.
“With porous border points, the prospects of Ebola outbreak in the Kenya could be high, hence the need to take precautionary measures to deal with it,” Ojaamong said during an emergency meeting at the customs office.
Isaiah Nakoru, County Commissioner said Ebola was a real threat and the government needed to come up with prevention strategies.
The officials spoke as Health Cabinet Secretary(CS) James Macharia downplayed the fears of an Ebola outbreak in the country.
The CS said the ban on flights from the epicentre of the disease in the West Africa countries took effect on Tuesday August 19 at midnight
“The consequence of defying this ban will result in the airlines being forced back to their point of origin without any passengers being allowed to disembark,” CS said.
At the airport, passengers wore face masks and gloves as they left the terminal.
World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier last week classified Kenya as among high risk countries in the world of Ebola outbreak, with major Asian airlines threatening to stop their flights to the East African powerhouse.