Busia County residents want the national and County government to increase screening points for the deadly coronavirus. The locals claim the two points situated at Busia and Malaba border points are not enough since the Kenya-Uganda border is porous posing danger to Kenyans living along it, “They are only screening people entering Kenya through Busia and Malaba border posts yet there are many routes along the border where people enter the country freely without being checked and screened,” said one resident.
They have given an example of Lake Victoria where one can cross over to Uganda and back to Kenya without any restriction and Alupe, Buteba, Among’ura among other unmanned crossing points, “The government should ensure that all these points are manned and people crossing through are properly screened because many people pass through Busia to and from other countries in Africa.”
At Busia and Malaba borders, the government has set aside special rooms where people suspected to have the virus can be quarantined for further interrogation and medication.
Despite the concerns from Busia residents, the County government has assured them that it is working closely with the national government in ensuring that the virus which has killed dozens of people in the world doesn’t spread to Kenya through Busia County which borders Uganda, “I want to assure the people of Busia County that we are working closely with the national government in ensuring that the virus doesn’t get in the County and country through our borders. We have enough personnel and equipment ready to handle any eventuality,” said Moses Mulomi, Busia County deputy governor who is also the acting CEC for health.