Kenya's Ambassador to China Narrates the Suffering of Kenyans in Wuhan After Coronavirus Outbreak

Kenyan ambassador to China Sarah Serem says she is worried about the safety of 100 Kenyan students stuck in China’s Wuhan city following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus dubbed COVID-19.

In a statement sent to the media, Serem described the suffering Kenyans in Wuhan, which is on a lockdown, have been going through even as she urged Kenyans to pray for them.

“Going through the daily updates of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, reading the number of infections, number of deaths, those in critical condition, and in Wuhan where I have close to a hundred students, sends a chill down my spine,” said Serem.

She described the situation she has found herself in as “one of the toughest moments in my entire career.” Serem also dedicated a special prayer for the Kenyan students to God, asking him to protect them.

“Insulate every of my children in Wuhan and put a wall of fire around each one of them. I embrace every student in Wuhan as my child and part of my family. Every breath of my life is a whisper of prayer for each Kenyan locked up at the center of the virus.”

“I think of Olivia, the pregnant girl, think of Kevin and his family, his pregnant wife and little 3-year-old baby girl. I think of the team of student leadership, who on daily basis have to bear and address every emotional moment of the students; I think of Wamboi, who’s alone in her university and has nobody to reach out to.”

“Forgive us oh Lord and deal with us not according to what we deserve, but in the unmerited mercies of The Lord Jesus Christ. Give us hope and peace that surpasses human understanding and teach us to number our days, in love,” she concluded.

As of Monday, the number of deaths from COVID-19 in China was reported to be 1,700 and 70,000 total infections. The US, the UK, Japan and Nepal are among countries that have evacuated their citizens from various Chinese cities using chartered planes.

Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently ruled out the option of evacuating Kenyans from Wuhan, saying they are safer in China.