CURFEW TO END TONIGHT.

The nationwide curfew extended by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in May expires tonight, with little hope that it will be lifted altogether.

The order to remain indoors between 10pm and 4am, in place since March last year, has been renewed every two months, with security officials noting it has helped reduce crime, while a majority feel it has done little to stem Covid-19 infections.

Kenya’s Covid-19 positivity rate stands at 13.5, from an all-time high of 17 in March, but there are fears of a fourth wave of infections, even as the government ramps up efforts to vaccinate much of the population by the end of this year.

As of July 26, the country’s caseload stood at 197,959, with 2,097,101 cumulative tests.

In May, the government extended the nationwide night curfew for 60 days to July 26 as part of measures to contain the third wave of Covid-19 infections.

The announcement of the curfew was made through a May 28 special gazette notice.

Mr Matiang’i said in the notice that a ban on public gatherings that could turn into superspreader events had 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 said.

“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.

Lockdowns and other restrictions have stifled revenues and hampered growth, forcing many firms to freeze hiring after millions of workers lost their jobs last year.

Kenya’s economy was projected to grow by 6.2 percent but is expected to have grown 0.6 percent because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines was expected to influence Kenya’s economic recovery and return some sense of normality for the population but the country has been battling the third wave of infections, dimming hopes of a full recovery.

Kenya on March 5 began vaccinations, targeting 1.25 million people by next month and another 9.6 million in the next phase starting July. As of July 25, a total of 1,673,272 vaccines had been administered, with 1,047,592 first doses and 625,680 second ones.

In March this year, President Kenyatta extended the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew for 60 days to the end of May, in a bid to battle a third wave of infections

The President said at the time that the Covid-19 positivity rate had hit 13 per cent in March compared with January’s two per cent.

“Unfortunately, it is still rising,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta also revoked all issued curfew passes and exemptions, citing abuse. He has now ordered the Interior and Health ministries to review existing protocols.

He also ordered the suspension of ordinary sessions of Parliament, as well as those of the county assemblies of Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu and Nakuru and their committees.

Sourced from Nation.