Coronavirus: Kenya shuts borders with Somalia, Tanzania over Coronavirus spread

16 Mai 2020

Nairobi, Kenya, May 16  (Infosplusgabon) - The Kenya-Tanzania border and the Kenya- Somalia border will be shut with immediate effect to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus, President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Saturday.

President Kenyatta said the decision to shut the borders followed the increased number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus outbreak in Kenya.

In the last one week, Kenya reported increased number of imported cases among individuals crossing into the country through the borders.

"These areas have become areas of grave concern," Kenyatta said during a televised address on Saturday.

Among the positive cases registered in Kenya this week, was a total of 43 cases of people who crossed the border from neighbouring Somalia and Tanzania.

Most of the cross-border cases spread to Wajir, near the border with Somalia, where 14 cases were reported, in Isebania, which reported 10 cases, bordering Kenya and Tanzania and at least 16 cases reported in Namanga, the Kenyan border with Tanzania.

More cases were also reported at Lungalunga, near the border with Tanzania, which reported two cases and and one case in Loitoktok in Kenya.

The 43 cases represent almost a quarter of the 166 confirmed infections this week. Another 78 truck drivers who are foreign nationals tested positive for the COVID-19 disease. They were denied entry into the Kenyan territory at different border crossings.

"If we had not undertaken this intervention, the imported cases through our borders would have today accounted for more than 50 percent of the week’s infections," President Kenyatta said.

Within the Kenyan borders, infections have now spread to 22 of our 47 Counties, President Kenyatta said. "These numbers and the spread of infection clearly indicate that if no action is taken, all the gains already achieved in combating this pandemic will undoubtedly be lost."

President Kenyatta said the closure of the borders means there shall be cessation of movement of persons and any passenger-ferrying automobiles and vehicles into and out of the territory of Republic of Kenya through the Kenya-Tanzania international border except for cargo vehicles, with effect from, Saturday, 16 May, 2020.

The closure also stops movement of persons and any passenger ferrying automobiles and vehicles into and out of the territory of the Republic of Kenya through the Kenya-Somalia international border except for cargo vehicles, with effect from midnight Saturday, 16 May, 2020.

All drivers of the cargo vehicles shall be subjected to mandatory COVID-19 disease testing and will only be granted entry into the territory of the Republic of Kenya if they test negative.

"The nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew that is currently in force be extended for a further period of 21 days up to and until the 6 June, 2020. I want to be very plain today. I want every single Kenyan to understand where we stand, and what is in our immediate future," Kenyatta said.

Kenyatta said: "A brutal and unforgiving enemy is at our wall. He is trying to gain entrance using every door and every window. He is asking every Kenyan to sneak him in so that he can attack us all."

Since Kenya reported its first COVID-19 case, the country has recorded 830 confirmed infections and 50 deaths. "It is disturbing to note that close to 30% of these recorded deaths occurred at home," Kenyatta said.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/LMK/GABON2020

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