Despite the national government’s move to start medical checks at the Kenya-Uganda border at the Suam border point in Trans Nzoia in light of the global coronavirus scourge several residents along the border have called upon the government to make sure it closes all the shortcut paths used by Kenya and Uganda residents to sneak in and out of the country.
Following the confirmation of the first Covid-19 case in Kenya on Friday, the medical screening exercise at the border point is ongoing, with doctors deployed to carry out the exercise.
Locals along the Suam border point lauded the national and County governments’ initiative to set up medical screening, saying they are optimistic it will help to curb the spread of the disease. “We are happy concerning the screening exercise after the first coronavirus case was made public and we urge the government to send more doctors to the border to continue with the exercise,” said Margaret Chemutai, a resident.
They, however, expressed their doubts concerning non locals including Chinese nationals who are doing road construction work, claiming that some of them may travel to their nation and come back and keep mingling with residents.
They said they even fear doing business with them including exchanging cash notes, and have urged the government not to allow more Chinese nationals in the area.
On the issue of short cut routes the residents said there are numerous routes being used by residents of Kenya and Uganda, adding hat if they are not checked an blocked, it may lead to serious problems in the future.