Sossion: Kenya has not recorded any Ebola case, but it doesn't mean we may not record in the future

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:01]Refuse entry before health clearance and quarantine or isolate individuals suspected of carrying infectious disease. And meaning once they land >> Yeah, and that's why >> we cannot accept we cannot presume that we knew their status.

[00:00:13]>> Yeah, but but >> It's only after they land that we can say okay, fine, they're infected then quarantine. It's very possible.

[00:00:18]>> that is what that is what Kenyans need to know. That is what Kenyans They They are lagging in that law is that they can actually presume ignorance until those people land. And I can tell you this and I can promise you this and we can come back here for 2 weeks that there will be the quarantine zones will be within the regions of the of the airport and the entry borders.

[00:00:36]>> But associate, it would appear that the law uh could allow such the quarantine.

[00:00:40]And the health CS has that authority.

[00:00:42]Nothing needs to go to the National Assembly. The CS is already >> of scientific fact, why do you conduct tests at entry points, whether it's at the airport, whether it's at the border? Why do you do so?

[00:00:57]So that you can identify >> Yes.

[00:01:00]>> people who might be affected.

[00:01:03]>> So it is possible.

[00:01:03]>> And then when you identify, what do you do?

[00:01:08]>> You isolate, quarantine.

[00:01:10]>> So it is possible. So so >> Isolate. It's a scientific fact.

[00:01:13]>> So so then it's possible.

[00:01:15]>> Isolate. Isolate. Isolate. Allow me.

[00:01:18]Allow me. It's my turn. It's not your show. It's our show.

[00:01:21]>> I agree.

[00:01:22]Let's allow associate.

[00:01:24]You I've just read what we can do.

[00:01:26]>> Kenya has not recorded any Ebola case.

[00:01:30]That we thank God for it. But it doesn't mean we may not record in the future. We can.

[00:01:37]>> It is what we do after recording.

[00:01:38]>> And what what And and if that is identified in the future for whatever circumstances and out of out of natural circumstances, what is done? We must have isolation units.

[00:01:53]>> Yes.

[00:01:54]>> That is part of the preparation.

[00:01:56]Because we cannot tell Kenyans that since we don't have Ebola, we may not record it in future. We can.

[00:02:02]And once it happens, then what do we do?

[00:02:05]I would want to believe that would be the medical collaboration, so that in case >> Quarantine is already provided for.

[00:02:11]That once we confirm at the point of entry that this is a confirmed case of Ebola, it is not sending them back. It is >> No, you don't send You don't send >> You don't send >> at quarantine.

[00:02:20]>> You don't send >> this actually be within the law.

[00:02:23]>> Yeah.

[00:02:23]>> But it's within the law >> within the international law. It's within the provisions. If, for example, while we are seated here an Ebola case is is identified at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

[00:02:35]>> It is your assertion earlier assertion but assertion that I'm challenging.

[00:02:39]>> You you you you earlier asserted that this cannot happen. But by reading that provision of the Public Health Act, it means that this can actually be very possible >> And now you are clarifying You are now You are clarifying further my argument.

[00:02:53]If you identify an Ebola case at the airport, you cannot fly out that case. You can't. You quarantine within that vicinity.

[00:03:05]And >> So, anyone with Ebola can just decide to come to Kenya and because of our law says we will quarantine >> So, if if somebody has Ebola and is certified to be Ebola from from from the source of origin that person should not be boarded in any plane. If we identify an Ebola case within the country >> me ask >> that person >> cannot be allowed >> No, no.

[00:03:26]>> No, no. Remember our law >> No, no.

[00:03:28]That is a law.

[00:03:29]>> You you you had anticipated that probably it would require a repeal of provisions of the law through the National Assembly, but it would appear there's already something provided for this.

[00:03:41]>> Health Act, eh?

[00:03:42]>> Yes.

[00:03:42]>> Health Act that allows >> Act >> a Public Health Act that allows the CS the authority and powers that if they you are detected with an infectious disease at the entry of maybe uh this country you first you are isolated and you are quarantined. It means that you will not be allowed free entry to this country.

[00:04:06]We need to have uh uh isolation units.

[00:04:10]We need to have places that if such cases of course you know it can never I don't think it can be deliberate that somebody with Ebola says now let me go to Kenya where I will be quarantined because at the entry of any airport I think we have the screening.

[00:04:29]So these are I think these are also isolated cases that in case we can never say that it can never be detected in future.

[00:04:37]It's that is uh >> But do you do you now agree that this deal if it exists it would not need the involvement of the National Assembly at any level.

[00:04:46]The law already provides >> Uh of course we cannot run away from the law that allows the CS to have powers and it is a public health uh >> Should that be the case in this instance?

[00:04:57]>> So of course we we cannot certainly say that this is the the provision that has been used because the deal has not been made public but what we can say is that uh anybody with infectious disease at the entry point uh should be isolated and in fact quarantined.

[00:05:19]And because our public uh health act allows this we cannot run away from that act and if really this is the provision which can be used uh I but I don't think that as Kenyan people we can allow the already detected cases that are flown to this country and they be quarantined in this country from the US or from any other >> control about the exit from other countries and that's a concern. We only concerned about once they land in Kenya.

[00:05:53]>> Any nation can use this loophole to bring all their patients to Kenya.

[00:05:59]>> Uh one of the statements that really pricked my mind is that the cases which were identified in the DRC were taken to Germany and the Czech Republic. I really need to find out myself what are the laws of of the Germany and Czech Republic that allowed this that these cases were flown to this country and why not any other country and why not Kenya at that time. So, I think these are some of the issues that pricks our mind that we need to find out why this happened.

[00:06:34]>> Yes.

[00:06:34]>> Uh because each country has their own laws and provisions. So, I think this is what we need to find >> the point of our own legislation, it would appear we are done for if at all or the such a deal. You have been a legislator, Gloria. This we cannot we cannot lean on the law right now to actually question this.

[00:06:54]>> First off, before I even give my sentiments that I I'm eager to give, I want to correct Sossion while he thinks that