Kalonzo assures inmates disease will be contained

By Standard team

Sixty-eight prisoners from Kamiti Maximum Prisons remained in hospital as authorities moved to contain an outbreak of cholera that has claimed nine.

Authorities revealed there are 15 cases admitted at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka led a Government delegation to the institution and KNH to assure those infected the disease had been contained.

"We regret the deaths and will not allow further loss of lives," he said.

He said preliminary findings had shown there is an outbreak of cholera in Nairobi.

Mr Kalonzo assured prisoners the spread of the disease had been contained and urged them to observe hygiene all the time.

Officials from the Ministry of Health, Water and the City Council were on the ground to ensure the disease is contained.

The VP added the spread of the disease was brought about by congestion at the facility but added ongoing reforms were aimed at addressing the problem.

Prisoners’ transfer

He said prisons authorities have stopped transfer of prisoners from one institution to the other.

He added that prisons authorities owe its suppliers Sh1.5 billion, making their operations difficult.

He said some suppliers had stopped supply because of non-payment.

Meanwhile, Water Minister Charity Ngilu has said absolved her ministry from wrong doing following the deaths of nine inmates at Kamiti Maximum Prison.

Mrs Ngilu said there were adequate boreholes at the prison and that the water was clean and fit for human consumption.

"The water is clean and the deaths should be blamed on something else other than the water," she added.

Fresh dates

The minister said despite the fact that the prison was indebted to the ministry; the commodity would not be disconnected.

Ngilu said she dispatched officers to Kamiti when the tragedy broke out.

"My officers led by PS were also there today and carried out more tests on the water and results are showed the water is clean," she added.

At the same time, criminal appeals and cases involving more than 50 Kamiti Maximum Prison inmates were adjourned following an outbreak of cholera at the facility.

Advocates and State Counsels who arrived at the law courts were forced to take fresh dates.

Commissioner of Prisons, Isaiah Osugo said they were waiting for medical results from health authorities to ascertain whether the inmates scheduled to go to court were free to do so.