This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
June 17, 2020 - Nairobi, Kenya
The Kenyan government has denied reports that 200 Chinese nationals left the country over COVID-19 fears, with the Chinese Embassy in Nairobi also dismissing the claims as 'totally false and based on the Reporter's imagination.'
The reports, published in a local daily, claimed that the group had obtained a court order to leave the country, citing a lack of trust in the Kenyan health system to manage the virus.
However, the Chinese Embassy and the Foreign Affairs Ministry have both denied the claims, with the Embassy stating that there is no passenger flight to China this week.
China Southern Airlines, which was reportedly set to fly the group to China, also rebuked the story as 'fake news.'
"There was no flight from Nairobi on Tuesday," said Huang Guanwen, the airline's General Manager. "Southern Airlines is still waiting for approval from authorities to resume the flights."
The Embassy has urged Chinese nationals in the country to strictly observe the COVID-19 containment measures issued by authorities in the host country in defeating the virus that had infected 3,727 by June 15.
