Rights agency queries police

An international human rights agency has warned against the use of quarantine to punish curfew offenders.

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) yesterday accused the police of weaponising the fight against the viral disease to harass and extort money from members of the public.

This came as some Kenyans claimed that they had been detained in various government facilities for failing to pay quarantine fees.

The Senate Committee on Covid-19 was on Thursday told how individuals who have tested negative more than once were still being held in the various quarantine centres for not paying service fees running to Sh50,000.

Yesterday, ICJ Chairperson Kelvin Mogeni called on the government to establish a task force to look into reports of abuse and violations of rights at these centres.

“ICJ reminds the government and the National Police Service that every enforcement must be lawful. The 14-day quarantine is not and should not be a form of punishment but a measure to curb the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Mr Mogeni in a statement.

“The quarantine must not be weaponised by the police to harass, punish or ask bribes from Kenyans. We, therefore, call on the government to establish a task force to look into reports arising out of abuses and violations occurring in the context of enforcement of quarantine measures.”

ICJ further urged the government, in collaboration with counties, to ensure that Kenyans who need medical care that is only available in the capital or other hospitals in emergency situations are allowed access despite the dusk-to-dawn curfew and lockdown of some counties.

In Parliament, a protest letter from some of those in mandatory quarantine to Acting Director General of Health Patrick Amoth, was submitted to the Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja-led committee for intervention.

The victims painted a picture of a government keen on collecting service fees from those in mandatory quarantine before they can be released. They questioned why they were being compelled to part with money or have their passports detained when there were funds from international donors and contributions by Kenyans to help in the fight against the disease.

“Why are we being compelled to pay for mandatory quarantine when it was a government-initiated policy and the government has received sufficient funding towards the Covid-19 response?" they asked.