Seven Kenyans sue gov’t claiming rights were violated while in mandatory quarantine

Seven Kenyans, among them a minor, have sued the government and are seeking damages claiming their rights were violated when they were held in mandatory quarantine.

The seven, according to court papers, arrived in Kenya on different dates between March 23 and March 25, 2020 from various countries – Malawi, United States, Australia, U.K, Singapore, Pakistan – and were taken to designated quarantine facilities.

They now argue that the decision by government to implement mandatory quarantine is arbitrary and unreasonable.

The petitioners stated that “placing a person under quarantine limits their right to liberty, freedom of movement, privacy and economic livelihood.”

They further added that the manner in which the mandatory quarantine is being implemented does not comply with the State’s constitutional duties.

They also argued that it is the government’s obligation during this Covid-19 pandemic to promote, observe and protect the rights of citizens.

Each of the seven is now seeking varied amounts of money in damages following the costs they paid in the duration they were in mandatory quarantine; the lowest being Ksh.6,785 and the highest Ksh.112,000.