Uhuru Extends Nationwide Curfew, Meetings Ban by 30 Days

President Kenyatta has extended the nationwide curfew for a further 30 days as Kenya’s Covid-19 cases climbed to 2,600.

Addressing the nation from State House, Nairobi on Saturday, Kenyatta also said the number of Covid-19 fatalities increased by four to 83. 

Uhuru indicated that due to the rising number of Covid-19 infections in the country, it would be illogical for the government to relax containment measures.

He further noted that health professionals and public practitioners warned of the danger of relaxing the restrictions since Kenya was yet to meet a list of three thresholds for relaxation.

“The irreducible minimum for lifting restrictions has three thresholds; One, to open up, the infections must be contained and the number of infections and deaths must be headed downwards. This is currently not the case in our country,” Kenyatta noted.

“Our healthcare system must be prepared sufficiently to take on a surge in infections. It must not be overwhelmed at any one point during this pandemic. Access to testing, isolation, and quarantine must be a bare minimum in our health facilities. This is not the case currently.”

“The capacity for surveillance and contact tracing must also be fully in place across the country,” he added.

Uhuru, as a result, announced the extension of the countrywide curfew for 30 more days. The curfew will run between 9 pm and 4 am instead of 7 pm to 5 am as it was previously.

He further extended the ban on all forms of social and political gatherings as well as the cessation of movement of people in and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, and Mandera counties for an additional 30 days.