STATEMENT ON EBOLA

I am alarmed by reports in American and international media suggesting that the United States intends to send Americans exposed to Ebola to Kenya for treatment. While Kenya takes its responsibilities in the community of nations seriously, no partnership should compromise our sovereignty or place the Kenyan public at undue risk.

While international partnerships in disaster preparedness and emergency response may require such collaboration in the management of outbreaks, Kenyans deserve full transparency on any specific arrangements involving the treatment of individuals exposed to highly infectious and potentially lethal viruses such as Ebola. There must be clear, publicly available details and specific, enforceable assurances that protect Kenya’s health system, its healthcare workers, and the broader population.

The statement issued today by the Health Cabinet Secretary neither provides clarity nor discloses details of the proposed arrangements, and thus fails to provide the specific assurances Kenyans rightly expect. Specific measures must include domestic oversight, rigorous infection-control protocols, and the informed consent of health professionals as well as any other Kenyans whose safety is directly affected. In the absence of such information, public concern is understandable and legitimate.

The primary duty of the Kenyan government is to protect the Kenyan people and to safeguard our sovereignty. Partnership is welcome, but it must never be conducted in a manner that leaves citizens in the dark on their level of risk. This is particularly important in light of the recent Health Agreement with the USA, which has already raised serious questions about the protection of Kenyans’ privacy and health rights.

I therefore call upon the Ministry of Health, the Executive, and Parliament, to immediately discharge their constitutional obligations by:

David K. Maraga ___________________________________________ Presidential Flagbearer and UGM Party Leader