Dozens filmed escaping from Kenyan quarantine centre

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has said dozens of people who were filmed escaping from mandatory quarantine in the capital, Nairobi, will be arrested and returned to finish their isolation period.

The president spoke on Wednesday morning, just hours after the video was shared online. It showed some people jumping over a perimeter wall at one of the quarantine centres.

Local media reports placed the number of those who escaped at 50, but the government has not confirmed the figure.

President Kenyatta said the government knew the identities of all those who had escaped and would arrest and take them back to the quarantine centre.

On Tuesday evening, the health ministry had said that police were investigating the escape.

Kenya’s Citizen TV station said the breakout took place during a meal when it started raining and guards took cover from the rain.

More than 400 people are under forced quarantine, some for flouting curfew orders and drinking despite the closure of bars.

Others have been quarantined after arriving in the country before the ban on international flights came into effect. Their quarantine period was extended after the ministry said that some isolation centres had not ensured social distancing.

Those in the centres have complained about poor hygiene conditions, saying they are more likely to contract the virus there.

The Daily Nation newspaper tweeted a video of some people jumping down the wall:

Spotted: Kenyans under quarantine at KMTC Mbagathi escape pic.twitter.com/wlGwH3EY4h

— Daily Nation (@dailynation) April 21, 2020