Kenya denies report claiming 6 million German army masks were stolen at JKIA

Kenya denies report claiming 6 million German army masks were stolen at JKIA

The Kenyan government has dismissed reports claiming that a shipment of 6 million coronavirus prevention masks meant for the German army mysteriously disappeared at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) last week.

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) says after receiving the reports, it conducted investigations that established no such cargo had been transported through JKIA for the last two weeks and no reports of missing cargo had been made to the authorities.

“Following media reports that a German army shipment of 6 million masks meant for protection against COVID-19 virus vanished at JKIA last week, KAA has conducted an investigation into the matter.

“Our investigation has concluded that there was no cargo of this nature that has passed through JKIA for the last two weeks and no missing cargo has been reported to the authorities,” said KAA in a statement on Tuesday.

The airports authority has termed the reports on the missing cargo that were first published on German media outlet Der Spiegel as fake news.

“We, therefore, wish to inform the public that we are treating this report of alleged disappearance of six million type FFP2 protective masks as fake news & that our cargo section continues with normal operations,” concluded KAA.

The German media outlet claimed it is suspected that either Kenyan criminals stole the shipment for sale or the manufacturer changed their mind and decided to make a killing, selling them him/herself in Kenya as they are presently on demand.

The protective masks, type FFP2, were expected to arrive in Germany on March 20 as they were urgently needed by medical personnel in the country in combating Covid-19.

“…the goods disappeared at the airport in Kenya,” a source at the German military told the paper, adding that the masks manufacturer has since been asked to “explain the circumstances and events.”

Germany has however suffered no financial loss as payment for the masks was reportedly supposed to be made on delivery.

The value of the shipment also still remains unknown.

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jkia German masks

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