‘Underwhelming, sickening’: CS Omamo leaves MPs angry over her remarks on coronavirus fight

By Angela Cheror and Brian Okoth

Foreign Affairs minister, Raychelle Awour Omamo, says the Kenyan Government will continue keeping close watch on the health situation of 100 Kenyans marooned in China as the coronavirus continues to ravage.

The 100 Kenyans in the foreign country include 91 students, who are in Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, and nine acrobats plying their trade in the Asian nation.

Addressing members of the Departmental Committee for Defence and Foreign Relations in the National Assembly on Thursday, February 27, Omamo failed to state whether the 100 Kenyans in China would be evacuated at the Government’s expense.

The Cabinet Secretary -- who was asked by the committee to issue a statement on the fate of the Kenyans stuck in China -- said the Kenyan Ambassador to China, Sarah Serem, continues to keep close communication with each Kenyan marooned in the Asian nation.

“Serem continues to speak to each and every Kenyan in China, and she has assured them of the Kenyan Government’s full support,” said Omamo.

The CS says she and her colleagues in the Cabinet have formed an inter-ministerial technical committee to find a solution to the coronavirus threat facing Kenyans abroad and those in the country.

Omamo says the Chinese Government has set aside 41 hotlines that the students in Wuhan can use in reaching out to authorities should they need “counselling services”.

The minister further said an open social media platform where the students can interact with the Chinese Government and seek “psychological help” was also created.

“We remain focused on the welfare of the Kenyan students stuck in Wuhan, and we have to deal with them in a sensitive way. We will continue giving them close attention and monitor their progress on a daily basis,” she said.

239-passenger flight in Kenya

On Wednesday, February 26, 239 passengers aboard a China Southern Airlines arrived in Kenya via the JKIA, much to the fury of many Kenyans online and offline, who accused the Government of taking the health and well-being of its citizens for granted.

Asked on the nationalities and the origin of the 239 passengers, who arrived in Kenya on Wednesday, Omamo said: “The flight that touched down in the country yesterday, was subjected to WHO requirements before it was allowed in Kenya. All the passengers were asked to self-quarantine. It is quite difficult to respond to certain questions. Given some of the passengers were wearing face masks, I wouldn’t be able to tell if they were from India, China, Elgeyo-Marakwet or Kisumu.”

‘Underwhelming and sickening’

Belgut MP, Nelson Koech, who is a member of the foreign relations committee, termed Omamo’s answers as “underwhelming and sickening”.

“I have sat here listening painfully to the CS of Foreign Affairs giving underwhelming and sickening answers to this Committee,” said Koech after the minister said she lacked proper understanding of the nature of the coronavirus, given it was not her area of expertise.

“I don’t have the capacity and knowledge to go into the intricacies of the disease,” she told the committee after being asked if she was aware of the dangers of letting carriers of the virus be in the country.

The minister had also angered some of the MPs when she was asked whether the Ambassador to China, Sarah Serem, had resigned to hopelessness after Kenyans remained marooned in China despite other countries evacuating their citizens.

Omamo’s response was: “Serem has a really caring nature, and I thank her. Serem loves children and students”.

MPs in the committee, which is made up of Ole Metito Katoo Judah (chairperson) Tongi Richard Nyagaka (vice-chairperson) and members: Mwathi Peter Mungai, Koech Nelson, Kilonzo Charles Mutavi, Abdullah Bashir Sheikh, Wanjira Martha Wangari, Raso Dido Ali, Kirima Moses Nguchine, Yussuf Adan Haji, Nyaga Beatrice Nkatha, Tuwei Vincent Kipkurui, Nakara John Lodepe, Gogo Lilian Achieng, Kanchory Elijah Memusi, Mohamed Asha Hussein, King'ola Patrick Makau, Kivai Ernest Ogesi and Luyai Caleb Amisi, said they couldn’t stomach the CS’s statements, which they termed as “underwhelming”.

“I am sorry that you are find my answers to be underwhelming. I don’t know what language to use to reveal how the Government is committed to tackle this [coronavirus] issue. Let us not lose hope, let us handle this issue [head-on],” said Omamo.

Coronavirus in numbers

The coronavirus is spreading more quickly in Europe, the Middle East and other parts of the world than in China where the virus first emerged in the central city of Wuhan at the end of last year, says Al Jazeera.

The number of new infections inside China was for the first time overtaken by fresh cases elsewhere on Wednesday, with Italy, Iran and South Korea emerging as new hotspots for COVID-19.

The disease was also detected for the first time in Estonia, Denmark, Georgia, Brazil, Pakistan, Sweden, Norway, Greece, Romania and Algeria. 

As of Thursday, February 27, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that the coronavirus had been reported as present in 48 countries, with total infections world-over being 82, 000, total deaths reported being 2, 800.

In China alone, 78, 000 people have thus far been confirmed to have the virus, with 2, 747 confirmed dead from the virus. 32, 531 were said to have recovered from the virus.