All 239 passengers from Chinese plane to be quarantined at KDF facility

The High Court has ordered that all 239 passengers who arrived in Kenya aboard a Chinese plane be quarantined at a Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) facility.

The respondents are to ensure that the passengers are traced, accounted for, re-examined and then quarantined either at the KDF facility or another specially guarded unit.

Justice James Makau said the order applies to “all the 239 passengers that they let into the country aboard a Chinese flight CZ 6043 which landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on February 26, 2020 at 7:29am”.

The Judge said the passengers are to remain in quarantine until they are duly certified to be free  from coronavirus (COVID 19) pending hearing and determination of the matter.

Two doctors had moved to court seeking to have the Government blocked from allowing entry of any passengers from China or any other World Health Organisation (WHO)-designated hotspot.

According to Dr Joseph Mithika Mwenda Mzalendo and Dr Thiakunu Cyprian Mwirabua, passengers traveling to Kenya either by sea, air or land and are from affected countries are a health risk.

The duo argued that the right to human life is valuable and supersedes any economic interest.

They further averred that Kenya lacks the capacity to contain the outbreak of coronavirus.

“The respondents ought to to embrace public participation and consult medical professionals prior to making serious decisions that are likely to infringe constitutional right of citizens,” court papers read in part.