Kenya Lifts Nationwide Curfew

Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta has on Wednesday lifted the nationwide curfew following the declining rate of COVID-19 infection in the country.

The curfew has been in place since 27 March last year and everyone had to stay indoors from 10pm to 4am, except for essential service workers.

“I have noted with much appreciation that the surge of infection has declined over the last two weeks as characterised by the positivity rate of below 5% that has been registered over this period,” said president Kenyatta during his address at the Mashujaa Day celebrations.

He, however, urged Kenyans to adhere to the COVID-19 containment measures even as the government works on fully reopening the economy.

“It is important for all of us to appreciate that we are not yet out of the woods and we must therefore continue to observe the containment measures as directed by the Ministry of Health as this is the only way to sustain the gains we are making and guarantee the full reopening of the economy,” said Kenyatta.

Among those who had made a passionate appeal to the President to lift the curfew were the restaurant operators.

The Pubs, Entertainment, and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) said the entertainment sector has been sidelined as others benefit from the relaxed Covid-19 containment measures.