This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
On April 6, 2020, the President announced a containment measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 by restricting movement in and out of Nairobi. However, 13 employees of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) were caught up in the restrictions while traveling from Nairobi to Nanyuki.
According to Laikipia County Commissioner Daniel Nyameti, the employees were intercepted at the Kamangura roadside checkpoint on the outskirts of Nanyuki town. They were traveling in a bus to the army base where they work as mechanics and drivers.
Health personnel and security officers immediately isolated the travelers, checked their temperature, and detained them for several hours as they sought directives from the Laikipia health department.
A high-powered team of health officials led by Acting Laikipia Chief Officer Dr. Donald Mogoi visited the scene and resolved to have the BATUK employees quarantined at the military facility for 14 days. They will be tested for COVID-19 before being allowed to resume work if the test is negative.
Laikipia County Commissioner Daniel Nyameti assured that the employees would be monitored closely to ensure they observe the quarantine regulations and do not mingle with other employees during the period.
He allayed fears that the employees would mingle with the public, stating that BATUK had undertaken to ensure that the quarantine measures would be met to the letter.
