Government Allows 237 Kenyans Who Returned from India to Self-Quarantine at Home

237 Kenyans who arrived in the country on Thursday, May 7th, from India have been allowed to self-quarantine at home.

The passengers, who were stranded in India for weeks after the country was locked down to contain the spread of Covid-19, landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on Thursday night aboard a chartered Kenya Airways (KQ) flight.

They were first screened for Covid-19 before boarding the KQ flight 205 that departed Mumbai for Nairobi on Thursday at 5.15 pm local time. They were also asked to present their Covid-19 clearance certificates at the airport.

The returnees had initially been asked to choose their preferred facilities where they would be quarantined for a period of between 14 and 28 days upon arrival in Nairobi.

But on Friday, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr. Rashid Aman said the group will be allowed to self-quarantine at their respective homes.

He indicated that the travelers spent the night in various hotels in the city awaiting processing.

“I’m glad to inform you that 237 Kenyans, together with their family members and caregivers, arrived last evening and were received by staff from the Ministry of Health who facilitated their clearance,” he said.

“Many of the returnees were accommodated in hotels last evening at government expense while being processed to proceed home for self-quarantine. Similar flights are expected into the country in the coming days.”

Foreign Affairs CAS Ababu Namwamba said a majority of the returnees had traveled to India to seek medical treatment before the Covid-19 pandemic triggered a ban on international travel.