'Kenyan students are better off left in Wuhan' - Govt

Kenyan students living in China's Wuhan city, the epicentre of the of the coronavirus outbreak, are better off left there to minimise the risk of the virus spreading, a government spokesman has said.

Mr Cyrus Oguna said the government has freed up $108,728 (£84,170) for the students to feed themselves.

He added that the embassy in Beijing is taking care of two pregnant women who are in the city.

He however said the possibility of repatriating the students is still open but the government will make an "objective" decision about it.

"We're a responsible government that looks at things from a rational perspective and not emotive. Let's address issues from an objective perspective," Mr Oguna is quoted as saying by the Daily Nation.

About 100 Kenyans are in the Chinese city, 91 of them students,according to the Daily Nation newspaper.

In efforts to minimise transmission of the virus ???? the safest place for the students to be is Wuhan which is in lock down, based on the fact that countries that have evacuated their nationals have had one of their nationals spread #CoronaVirus to the rest in the plane @SpiceFMKE

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) February 21, 2020

Aside from the 1.3 million given to the Kenyan nationals in Wuhan, 10 million has been disbursed and will be distributed to the 100 nationals. #CoronaVirus @SpiceFMKE

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) February 21, 2020

Kenya is assessing the #CoronaVirus situation and objectively a decision will be made on whether to bring the 100 Kenyan nationals back home. @SpiceFMKE

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) February 21, 2020