COVID-19: Kagwe says government quarantine facilities will be free, urges Kenyans to get tested

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe on Wednesday, May 5, announced that all government quarantine facilities will be free of charge.

Speaking during a press briefing, the CS urged Kenyans not to be afraid of getting tested adding that the cost of testing will also be met by the government.

“The cost of targeted testing and quarantine in government facilities shall be met by the government. Kenyans should therefore not be afraid of getting tested forthwith.

“Effective today, government quarantine facilities will be occupied by those told to do so by the Ministry of Health, free of charge," said Kagwe.

Before his announcement, the National Assembly passed a motion moved by Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir, to carter for the cost of those forced into mandatory quarantine.

“It is unfair to make people pay for their quarantine at this time when everyone is facing difficult times,” said the Mvita MP.

The CS also said that patients coming into the country from abroad will be allowed to isolated at their homes or the facilities as advised by their doctors.

In the past few weeks, many Kenyans shied away from getting tested after negative testimonies from those in the quarantine facilities.

CS Kagwe announced that Kenya recorded 47 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the national tally to 581. He added that two more people died bringing total number of deaths to 26

32 of the new cases are from Mombasa, Nairobi has 11 cases, Busia 2, Kiambu 1 and Kwale 1.