Kenyan ambassador prays for students trapped in Wuhan

Kenya's ambassador to China Sarah Serem has told students stuck in Wuhan, the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, that they will not yet be brought home but she is praying for their safety.

In a video message, Ambassador Serem asked Kenyans to join her and pray for Kenyan students living in the Chinese city which is currently on lockdown.

Ms Serem also said it was difficult for her not to be able to do anything to get them home:

Kenyan Ambassador to China Sarah Serem conveyed a message of solidarity and moral support to the leadership and the people of China during the fight against novel coronavirus.

"The people of Kenya stand with you and we know that this battle will be won and very soon," she said. pic.twitter.com/4uw5gjNzDY

— China Daily Africa (@CDAfricaNews) February 16, 2020

Kenya had two weeks ago promised to repatriate the students once the lockdown in Wuhan ends.

The health ministry had told parliament that it was co-coordinating with officials from the foreign ministry to do so.

They had identified two holding rooms at the airport and an isolation room at the national referral hospital, health ministry official Dr Mercy Mwangangi said at the time.