The newspapers Tuesday, October 13, reported on various topics, including the repercussions of the Ebola case confirmation on Kenyans as international companies halt hiring from the country over the virus.
Source: UGC
1. Taifa Leo
The newspaper reported on MSC Cruises having temporarily halted the recruitment of Kenyan crew members for its vessels following Kenya's first confirmed Ebola case, raising concerns about the wider impact on Kenyans employed in the international cruise industry.
The company, which employs hundreds of Kenyan seafarers, communicated the suspension to affected workers, setting October 31 as the end date for the pause. In its message, MSC Cruises described the decision as a precautionary measure taken while the situation continued to be monitored and assessed.
The company apologised for the short notice but assured affected employees that the suspension would have no bearing on their jobs, contracts, or future career prospects within the organisation.
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Workers whose travel plans had been deferred were told they would be prioritised for rescheduling from November 1, provided no further developments required additional action.
Although the company did not reference Ebola by name in its formal communication, an earlier internal email cited the disease explicitly.
"Please be advised that due to the Ebola outbreak, management has decided to suspend embarkation of crew from Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda until further notice," the email read.
Reports indicated that some Kenyan workers from Diani and Mombasa who had been scheduled to board MSC vessels were stranded as a result of the directive.
A similar disruption had also affected crew members in July, even before any Ebola case had been officially reported in Kenya.
Kenya's Ministry of Health confirmed the country's first case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease on October 6.
The patient, who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Uganda before arriving in Nairobi, subsequently died and was buried in accordance with public health protocols.
The government described the case as imported and urged the public to remain calm, follow official health guidance, and avoid sharing unverified information.
Authorities said they were strengthening disease surveillance and other public health measures to prevent further transmission.
Tourism analyst Mohamed Hersi, director of Pollman's Tours and Safaris, said the sector had not yet received reports of tourists cutting short their visits to Kenya due to the Ebola case.
However, he cautioned that the situation could shift depending on travel advisories issued by Kenya's key tourism source markets.
"We have not received reports of any cancelled trips. Everything will depend on travel advisories, especially from the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the UAE," Hersi said.
He expressed optimism that Kenya would avoid a severe advisory given that the confirmed case originated outside the country and health authorities had moved swiftly to contain the risk.
Abraham Guyo, manager of Africa Last Minute Ltd, cautioned that the case carried the potential to erode foreign visitor confidence in Kenya as a travel destination, particularly if international concern continued to grow.
Source: TUKO.co.ke