CALL FOR END TO FORCED QUARANTINING AND WANTON EXTORTION BY NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS IN THE WAKE OF COVID 19 PANDEMIC IN KENYA
Reports from quarantine centers established primarily to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus are very disturbing; That they have now been turned into places of punishment for those alleged to be violating the 7pm – 5am curfew is most worrisome a development that defeats the purpose such facilities are established to serve. This mode of quarantining is putting the health of those isolated there at risk of contracting COVID 19 which the curfew aims to prevent in the first place.
It will be recalled that it is because of the fears of COVID19 spreading that the release of 4,500 inmates in police cells was effected around the country and the police commanders were directed to stop holding petty offenders until the situation normalizes.
However, there is enough evidence that this directive has been flouted with many police stations still carrying on the detention of petty offenders and, worse serving as holding places where blatant extortion takes place; And now to make matters worse people are being rounded up, held in police stations from where those who cannot afford the fines or bribes are sent to the quarantine centers.
There is no screening to warrant isolation, simply fiat motivated by greed and punishment.
What is the public health justification of the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the police to again allow detention of healthy persons who violate the curfew, yet a violation of a curfew direction is a petty offense whose maximum fine is Kes 1,000?
We are saddened by the admission of the CS Health that there were around 455 healthy Kenyans in forced quarantines for violating curfew directive by Monday the 20th of April, 2020. What a shameful and counter productive move.
COVID 19 pandemic will not be eradicated by States that use fear tactics on citizens. It is those that work with the citizens’ active support and acquiescence with the conditions that are necessary for curbing the spread and for the eventual eradication of the virus who shall come out tops.
In our considered opinion, and given the COVID19 pandemic management efforts, curfew is aimed at minimizing interactions which in the night are generally casual and careless given that many night prowlers might be inebriated and hence have compromised level of taking care of themselves. Even so, this does not mean that this category of Kenyans are COVID 19 positive. Therefore, taking them to quarantine centers, whether at their own or government’s expenses; it increases their chances of contracting the virus; is a waste of taxpayers’ money; it encourages state sanctioned extortion by the policing agencies; and is an illegality perpetrated by the State against its citizens in the wake of a deadly pandemic.
We call on the government to immediately halt further quarantining by the police and instead institute mechanisms of ensuring that only cases deserving isolation are directed to such facilities. Violation of curfew orders, wearing of masks and social distancing should be treated as petty offences which should be handled judiciously in the due process. In the event that this isn’t halted we shall be mobilizing Kenyans of goodwill and move to court to stop these State sanctioned illegalities.
Boniface Sila Munyao & Al Amin Kimathi for
Kenya Social League
April 21, 2020
