A section of legislators from Nyanza region has urged the government to put measures in place to prevent transmission of Ebola virus through Lake Victoria.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, Ndhiwa Member of Parliament (MP) Martin Owino, Seme MP James Nyikal and Homa Bay Woman Rep Joyce Osogo said that they were concerned that the lake was porous and could create an environment for the Ebola virus to permeate through into Kenya.
Congolese and Ugandans interact with Kenyans in Lake Victoria for business activities. The business mostly takes place in various Lake Victoria islands such as Remba, Ringiti, Takawiri and others.
The leaders noted that it was during such interaction that Kenyans buy and sell to Ugandans, Tanzanians and the residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). But such interaction can be a recipe for Ebola transmission, they observed.
Speaking during a fundraiser for Malela SDA Church in Ndhiwa Constituency, Kajwang’ said businesses transacted in Lake Victoria lead to interaction of Kenyans with foreigners whose countries experience Ebola outbreaks.
“This puts the lives of the area residents at the risk of contracting the Ebola,” he noted.
He said the government should put in place measures to prevent Kenyans from contracting the disease. “Our people trade with Congolese and Ugandans through Lake Victoria. We appeal to the government to put preventive measures in place so that our people don’t contract Ebola,” Kajwang said.
The Senator told the government to prioritize Kenyans over foreign nationals in protection from Ebola virus.
Owino warned politicians against politicising Ebola preventive measures. “Let leaders stop playing politics with Ebola prevention efforts in this country. The quarantine facilities are aimed at preventing spread of the virus in the unfortunate event we have some cases,” Owino said.
He urged the government to equip Ebola quarantine centers to enable service provision in case one contracts the disease. “The facilities should be equipped for contact tracing and proper service provision,” Owino said.
Nyikal said that science requires people who are sick during an epidemic or a pandemic to be contained where they are. “Science dictates that people who are sick during a pandemic or an epidemic should be contained where they are. What we will not allow is the transportation of people who are already sick into our country,” Nyikal said.
He said they support the government’s efforts to establish 23 quarantine centers. “Establishment of the isolation centers is good and we support the government,” he said.
By Davis Langat
