Mandera County has announced that it cannot trace 32 people who reportedly sneaked out of a facility where they were placed under forced quarantine in Elwak town.
According to reports, the 32 were passengers who had traveled from Nairobi last week and were placed under forced quarantine as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of Coronavirus.
In a letter, addressed to Mandera South Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Abdihakim Dubai, County Executive Ahmed Sheikh said the 32 disappeared under unclear circumstances.
However, the letter by the County Executive seems to be pointing an accusation finger at the DCC who allegedly knows the whereabouts of the 32 as they were under police watch.
“I write to register our displeasure with how 32 people out of 66 passengers disappeared from quarantine facilities under the watch of police officers,” read the letter by County Executive Ahmed Sheikh.
The County chief said the escape plan was successful because some police officers colluded with the suspects and let them out.
“It appears a few elements within the security system are yet to understand the seriousness of this campaign against coronavirus.”
The 32 were among 66 passengers who were in a Nairobi bound bus that had left the capital despite the cessation directive by the President.
The driver of the Makka bus, a Nairobi Mandera bound was arrested on arrival but was not taken to court after the latest developments.
The county official has ordered the DCC to take responsibility, trace the 32 people and punish the officers involved in the escape plan.
However, Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha dismissed the claims that the DCC was involved in the escape plan.
“There is a multi-agency team dealing with coronavirus in Mandera and it is not true that DCC released people from quarantine. We have launched investigations into the matter and action will be taken against whoever will be found liable,” the commissioner said.
Mandera county Boss, Governor Ali Roba urged Mandera residents to be more vigilant in the fight against the coronavirus.
“From the look of things, it is only through extreme vigilance that we can remain proactive and contain the spread of this pandemic. Lack of capacity, preparedness and poor enforcement by our security partners will lead to extreme exposure to the pandemic in the county,” Governor Roba said.
He said all those involved in the escape plan of the 32 individuals will be held accountable and brought to book.
“We are now dealing with indiscipline cases among the public and our officers. I urge our security teams to understand that coronavirus is a life-threatening disease that can be countered effectively through disciplined collective efforts from all of us.”
So far Mandera has four confirmed cases of the Covid-19.
There are 225 confirmed cases countrywide, with 10 deaths and over 50 recoveries.