Uhuru Denies Oxford University COVID-19 Vaccine is being Tested on Kenyans

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The Kenyan government agencies such as the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Kenya Primate Center were working so hard to manufacture a vaccine for the fight against coronavirus. This article presents Kenyan update on the pandemic where Uhuru denies Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine is being tested on Kenyans.

Coronavirus pandemic is tampering with the normal operations of most industries in Kenya. It is straining the lives of families and overburdening the healthcare system. Borders and schools are closed and most businesses are shuttering down.

The president of Kenya recently asked Kenyans not to panic because the solution to Coronavirus disease was on the way. He made it clear that the government will address the public once the Agencies are through with developing the vaccine.

Uhuru denies Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine is being tested on Kenyans

The BBC medical correspondent, Fergush Warlsh, said that Oxford University was thinking of testing the proposed vaccine in Nairobi. This was to happen only if test results delay from the United Kingdom. This was said even though the United Kingdom has over 143, 000 cases and at least 19000 deaths. On the other hand, Kenyan 343 COVID-19 cases and only 14 deaths.

Why Kenya?

Warlsh said that Kenya was selected as a good testing ground. This is because the coronavirus cases in the country are likely to increase in large numbers in the coming months.

“The team in Oxford has developed a successful prototype against another type of coronavirus; MERS and they have also developed vaccines against malaria,” he said.

“If they don’t get early quick results in the UK they are considering a trial in Kenya where the epidemic of coronavirus will be on the rise.”

Kenyans Reaction

Most Kenyans did not welcome this news positively. They reacted in social media to condemn the suggestion. NARC Party Leader, Martha Karua also commented on this issue. She urged the Kenyan government to come clean and tell the truth whether there were such agreements with the United Kingdom.

“@MOH_Kenya kindly confirm if UK vaccine trials are going to be conducted on Kenyans while we know that the UK and Europe have by far more COVID 19 cases than Kenya and Africa ?” Martha Karua twitted.

Kenyatta’s Remarks

However, President Uhuru Kenyatta refused to say that Kenyans will not be used guinea pigs for the COVID-19 vaccine. President Kenyatta said this following the reaction of Kenyans as foreigners earlier announced that Nairobi would be a good testing ground for COVID-19.

He, however, urged Kenyans to be patient and not to panic because the solution to Coronavirus disease was underway. He also said that the Kenyan government will not hide anything from its citizens regarding how far they have gone with finding a solution to the virus.

“Our institutions like KEMRI and the Kenya Primate Center are working with other teams to seek vaccine for this disease. When they tell us they have developed vaccines to a point that it will require human testing we will tell you,” The President said. “They are involved in global effort and I assure you nothing will be done in the dark, we will tell you. So don’t cause fear and panic to fellow Kenyans,” He continued.

Today, on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Speech, he extended the dusk-to-dawn curfews by another 21 days. This measure was put in place by the president to counter the increased rate of infection and urged Kenyans to be patient.