Kenya is in the grip of its third COVID-19 wave. The peak is projected to flatten by the middle of May 2021.
Nairobi has recorded 60% of all cases countrywide, and our numbers indicate that three out of five people in Nairobi are COVID-19 positive. The country’s death rate has climbed from three a day in January to seven a day in March. We are at an unprecedented and crucial point in the fight against this virus.
To avoid a national health crisis, President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the following measures to take effect from midnight on Friday 26 March 2021 until further notice:
- The following counties are declared disease-infected and therefore there shall be cessation of movement by road, rail and air in and out of these counties as one zoned area:
- Nairobi
- Kajiado
- Machakos
- Kiambu
- Nakuru
- All in-person gatherings in the above counties are suspended. For all other counties, all physical meetings or events including social gatherings are limited to no more than 15 people.
- All in-person assembly gatherings and meetings of leaders are suspended, and Parliament and regional Houses in the affected counties are directed to go on recess.
- International travel will continue with all protocols in place. All travelers into Kenya MUST have a negative PCR COVID-19 test certificate valid for ninety-six hours from the date the test is taken until arrival.
- The curfew in all disease-infected counties is revised to 8pm – 4am. Other counties remain with the current curfew hours of 10pm – 4am.
- All in-person worship related activities in the disease-infected counties are suspended. For the other counties, the 1/3 capacity rule must be strictly observed by all religious institutions.
- All curfew passes and exemptions are vacated pending review.
- All physical learning at educational institutions is suspended.
- All sports activities suspended including members clubs.
- The operation of bars in the disease-infected counties is suspended, and all restaurants and eateries in the said counties may operate on a take-away basis only. There will be no sale of alcohol in restaurants and eateries.
- Public transport operators must uphold the 60% designated carrying capacity.
- All employers including pubic bodies, the private sector, government offices, and others are directed to have employees work from home, except those where services cannot be provided remotely.
- The Judiciary is directed to eliminate non-essential physical meetings or situations that may lead to crowding or propagation of the virus.
- All hospitals are directed to limit visitors to two visitors per patient.
- Funerals should have a maximum of fifty people attending, which number includes officiators and facilitators. Funerals are to be conducted within seventy-two hours of confirmation of death.
- Marriage ceremonies and traditional unions are restricted to thirty people attending, which number includes officiators and facilitators.
- The prohibition against political rallies is extended.
- Those above fifty-eight years of age are to be vaccinated as a priority in the first vaccination phase.