The Ministry of Interior has extended nationwide night curfew for 60 days as part of measures to contain the third wave of Covid-19 infections.
In a gazette notice dated May 28, Interior Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the 10pm to 4am remains in effect until July 26.
Interior Secretary Fred Matiang’i said in the notice that a ban on public gatherings that could turn into super spreader events has also been extended for another 30 days, as was a prohibition on overnight events and vigils.
“This order shall apply during the hours of darkness between 10 o’clock in the evening and four o’clock in the morning with effect from the 28th of May 2021 and shall remain in effect for a period of 60 days thereof,” Dr Matiang’i says in the notice.
“There shall be no public gatherings, processions or movement either alone or as a group during the period of the curfew except as shall be permitted in writing by a police officer in charge of the police in a county or a police officer in charge of a division or sub-county.”
In making the decision, Dr Matiang’i signalled that the pandemic remains a threat to Kenyans’ health and livelihoods despite the national positivity declining.
Kenya has 170,647 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 with fatalities standing at 3,124.
Positivity rate, which is tabulated by dividing the number of infections by the sample size, stood at four percent yesterday from a high of 22 percent in March.
The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines and a quick success of the curbs would influence Kenya’s economic recovery.
The country on March 5 began vaccinations, targeting 1.25 million persons by next month and another 9.6 million in the next phase starting July.
Lockdowns and other restrictions have stifled revenues and hampered growth, forcing many firms to freeze hiring after millions of workers lost jobs last year.
Kenyan economy was projected to grow by 6.2 percent, but is expected to have grown 0.6 percent because of the Covid-19 pandemic
