Sidai residents in Athi River protest move by Chinese passenger who was aboard China Southern Airlines to self-quarantine at the estate

Neighbors protest over Chinese man's behavior after he landed from China

Mumbi Mutuko

February 28, 2020 10:37 AM

Chinese man was among passengers aboard China plane stranded at JKIA

Officials at Athi River estate where Chinese man has self quarantined himself

Residents of Sidai estate in Athi River protested after a Chinese national who were onboard the China Southern Airlines plane placed himself in quarantine at the estate.

Locals who spoke to journalists mentioned that there was panic after they noticed Chinese nationals in face masks walking around the estate.

The masks Chinese are wearing provide a barrier from particulate matter, but do not seal tightly enough against the wearer's face to eliminate the risk of contracting the virus.

A resident who was quoted by Citizen Digital stated: “The residents here are in panic and we have no idea, we have kids and can easily be a big blow to all of us.

Officials at Athi River estate where Chinese man has self quarentined himself Officials at Athi River estate where Chinese man has self quarentined himself Pulse Live Kenya

They posed “If these people are supposedly to be on self-quarantine, why are they outside walking around an estate with over 100 houses?"

Machakos public health officials were called to Sidai estate after one of the passengers sought placed himself in self-quarantine at the estate.

Blaming government

Daily Nation stated that Qi Xiao Li, 35, who travelled from China’s Anhui Province, had struck a deal with a colleague who lives in the estate to help him stay in isolation for 14 days.

Officials at Athi River estate where Chinese man has self quarantined himself Officials at Athi River estate where Chinese man has self quarantined himself Pulse Live Kenya

Lucas Mwove, the chief officer, Public Health Machakos County stated that Xiao was brought to the estate from JKIA by an Uber taxi wearing a face mask and ushered in by his colleagues who were all in masks.

When residents of the estate management were made aware of the situation they tried to evict the man but county officials intervened and stopped the move.

Kennedy Kyalo, the estate chairman, said they protested due to the casual manner in which the government let in 239 passengers from the China Southern Airlines plane.

Kenyans have protested the move by the directive by government to passengers coming in from countries affected by coronavirus to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Mumbi Mutuko