Tuesday afternoon, the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has distanced itself from the allegations appearing in the media that six million face masks on transit, belonging to the German army went missing at JKIA.
“Our investigation has concluded that there was no cargo of this nature that has passed through JKIA for the last two weeks and no missing cargo has been reported to the authorities”, KAA wrote on social media.
This is different from what a German news agency reported.
News weekly Der Spiegel reported that the masks went missing at a Kenyan airport at the end of last week.
It was not immediately clear why the shipment was transiting via the East African country, the spokeswoman for the German ministry of defence said.
Der Spiegel reported: “Insiders therefore suspect that after the deal with the German procurement office, the manufacturer might get a better price for its goods and sell the masks there (in Kenya).
“But it is also possible that criminals stole the delivery at the airport and now sold it profitably in Kenya.”
The German army’s procurement office — plagued in normal times by equipment shortages and breakdowns — is providing the health ministry with logistical support during the coronavirus crisis.
Kenya today received 20,000 Covid-19 testing kits, face masks and other assorted protective equipment donated by the Chinese Billionaire Jack Ma’s foundation.
There are currently 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kenya.
The government says the patients are spread in four counties.
Read KAA’s full press statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT: Jambo! Following media reports that a German army shipment of 6 million masks meant for protection against COVID-19 virus vanished at JKIA last week, KAA has conducted an investigation into the matter.
Our investigation has concluded that there was no cargo of this nature that has passed through JKIA for the last two weeks and no missing cargo has been reported to the authorities.
We, therefore, wish to inform the public that we are treating this report of alleged disappearance of six million type FFP2 protective masks as fake news & that our cargo section continues with normal operations.
Masks have become profitable after shortages experienced all over the world over outbreak of the China virus.
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