NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 20 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has lifted the nationwide curfew that has been in force for over a year and a half now.
Speaking during the Mashujaa Day celebrations at Wang’uru Stadium in Kirinyaga County Wednesday, the Head of State vacated the curfew, imposed to support efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, with immediate effect.
“By the authority vested in me as President, I here by order and direct that the nationwide dusk to dawn curfew that has been in effect from the 27th of March 2020, be and is hereby vacated with immediate effect,” Kenyatta announced.
The President further reviewed in-person worship attendance from a third of auditorium capacity to two thirds.
“Given the progress in containing this disease, the committee jointly with the interfaith council has recommended a review of the existing containment measures, according the number of persons gathering for in person worship, is now reviewed upwards from one third of congregants to two thirds as long as they adhere to all the health’s protocols,” said Kenyatta.
Kenyans have been piling pressure on government, through social media platforms, to lift the curfew to inject fresh impetus to the struggling economy.
Amani National Congress Party leader Musalia Mudavadi was among top political leaders who had pleaded with the President to lift the curfew.
On Sunday, Mudavadi said the curfew was worsening the economic situation in the country.
Mudavadi said that the COVID-19 positivity rate had declined significantly hence the need to put in place measures that guarantees the country’s economic stability.
“We are really held up by COVID-19, but we kindly urge President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider lifting the nationwide curfew for the better of our country’s economy,” he said Sunday at the burial of lawyer Evans Monari in Nyamira county.
A section of Kenyans interviewed by Capital FM said Kenyans had over time learnt to abide by coronavirus containment measures and support government vaccination efforts.
“We know that COVID-19 is still much active, but we have to balance. We have been vaccinated and we are encouraging other Kenyans to be vaccinated so that we can fight this virus together,” Dan Okello, a taxi driver in Nairobi, said.
