Homa bay: 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 expressed concerns about the porous nature of Lake Victoria, which they fear could facilitate the entry of the Ebola virus into Kenya.
According to Kenya News Agency, Congolese and Ugandans frequently engage in business activities with Kenyans in Lake Victoria, particularly on islands such as Remba, Ringiti, and Takawiri. The leaders highlighted that these interactions where Kenyans trade with Ugandans, Tanzanians, and residents of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could potentially lead to the transmission of Ebola.
Speaking during a fundraiser for Malela SDA Church in Ndhiwa Constituency, Senator Kajwang’ emphasized that the business transactions at Lake Victoria expose residents to the risk of contracting Ebola. He urged the government to implement preventive measures to safeguard Kenyans from 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 stated.
MP Owino cautioned against the politicization of Ebola preventive measures, stressing the importance of quarantine facilities in curbing the spread of the virus. He called for the government to equip these centers adequately, ensuring they are prepared for contact tracing and service provision. ‘The facilities should be equipped for contact tracing and proper service provision,’ Owino added.
MP Nyikal underscored the scientific necessity of containing sick individuals during an epidemic or pandemic, supporting the government’s initiative to establish 23 quarantine centers. ‘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, affirming their support for the government’s efforts.
