Maraga Hits Out at Ruto Over Ebola Quarantine U-Turn

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticised President William Ruto's administration following Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale's declaration that Kenya would not serve as a quarantine centre for other countries.

In a statement on Thursday, November 12, Maraga accused the Ruto administration of changing its position after previously defending the arrangement.

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"The sudden declaration today by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale that 'Kenya will not serve as a quarantine centre for any jurisdiction' is a breathtaking display of hypocrisy, and a reminder of this regime’s moral bankruptcy and political cowardice," he wrote.

Maraga claimed that Ruto had previously sold out Kenya's safety, sovereignty and dignity to serve the interests of the United States during the Ebola crisis.

He recalled that five months earlier, hundreds of Kenyans had taken to the streets in Laikipia to oppose plans to establish an Ebola quarantine facility for foreign nationals.

According to Maraga, the protests were met with police violence, leaving two young Kenyans dead after they were shot while demonstrating against the proposed arrangement.

He accused the President and his administration of defending the agreement at the time, dismissing public concerns and treating constitutional petitions with arrogance.

"At the time, the President and his administration defended the agreement, dismissed legitimate public outcry and treated constitutional petitions with arrogance. They criminalised dissent and shielded reckless bilateral arrangements. 

"Now Duale steps before the cameras at Afya House to recite the very principles those slain protesters died defending," he added.

Maraga further questioned why the government had defended the proposed quarantine arrangement if it now maintained that Kenya should not serve as a quarantine centre for other countries.

"This regime cannot adopt the protesters’ demands five months later while staying silent on the bullets that killed them. If serving as a quarantine hub had 'no basis in International Health Regulations', why was it signed, defended and enforced with police violence in the first place?" he posed.

Maraga argued that the government's latest position did not address the deaths of the protesters or explain why the administration had initially supported the arrangement.

He accused Ruto of prioritising foreign interests over the lives of Kenyans, maintaining that the government's handling of the controversy had undermined its moral authority.

"Kenyans see this regime for what it is: hypocritical and manipulative. The President heartlessly trades the lives of Kenyan citizens for foreign favours. Ruto has forfeited his moral right to govern," he concluded.

In a press conference on Wednesday, November 11, Duale made it clear that Kenya will not be a quarantine destination for other countries.

He said no country would be allowed to force its citizens travelling through Kenya to be quarantined until they are cleared to fly home.

Duale added that the Ministry of Health will not issue any clearance to foreign passengers from countries that require proof that they are Ebola-free.

"Let me also make this clear: Kenya will not serve as a quarantine centre for any jurisdiction. Travellers from other countries will not be held in Kenya to meet another country's entry requirements.

"The Ministry of Health will not issue any certificate of quarantine or Ebola-free certification for travel purposes. Such certificates have no basis in the International Health Regulations," he said.