Amid efforts to flatten the Covid-19 infection rate in Kenya’s capital, the Interior Ministry on Wednesday announced a 60 days extension in the night curfew in the country’s five worst-affected counties.
Through a gazette notice, the current 8 pm to 4 am curfew in the counties of Kiambu, Kajiado, Machakos, Nairobi and Nakuru, which are classified as diseased zone due to a high prevalence of Covid-129, will remain.
The rest of the counties continue to observe the 10 pm to 4 am curfew, for a period of 60 days.
“This order shall apply during the hours of darkness between eight o’clock in the evening and four o’clock in the morning with effect from the 29th of March 2021 and shall remain in effect for a period of 60 days thereof,” Dr Fred Matiang’i, Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government said in the notice.
The Nairobi Regional Police Commander Augustine Nthumbi singled out Mathare, Starehe, Huruma, Korogocho and Kariobangi estates areas where members of the public were ignorant of the curfew law.
“There is a lot of interaction of people from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm yet the curfew starts at 8.00 pm. Starting Friday, we want to see empty estates as people have to be inside their houses and no vehicle should be on the road during curfew hours,” he directed the law enforcement officers as quoted in MyGov, the Government Advertising Agency dated April 13.
In the new directive, the list of essential service providers has been increased from 22 to 26 to include advocates of the High Court, children protection service providers, cargo transporters and operators of safe shelters and safe spaces for sexual and gender-based violence survivors.
In March, President Kenyatta announced a cessation of all movement into and out of five counties: Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, Nakuru, said to be disease-infected areas.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in his directives on March 26 had not given a timeline for the curfews noting that the restrictions will stay in place “until otherwise notified.”
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