President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi countries as the hotspots of Covid-19 hence announcing traveling restrictions to these counties for the next 21 days.
According to the President’s speech on Monday Evening, 82 per cent of the total infections have been reported in Nairobi while 14 per cent is from the Coastal counties. In his statement, it read:
- In that regard, to halt this worrying trend, the Cabinet Secretary for Health issued declarations under the Public Health Act, in which COVID-19 was declared a Notifiable Disease and a Formidable Epidemic Disease.
- Therefore, fully conscious that:
- 82% of Kenya’s reported cases of COVID-19 have been in respect of residents of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area; and
- 14% of Kenya’s reported cases of COVID-19 have been in respect of residents of the counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa.
- The Cabinet Secretary for Health has further declared the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and the counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa as COVID-19 infected areas.
- Accordingly, to contain and limit the spread of the disease to other parts of the Country, the National Security Council has sanctioned and caused the issuance of the following additional measures, as follows:
- That there shall be cessation of all movement by road, rail or air in and out of:
(a) The Nairobi Metropolitan Area; and
(b) the counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa.
- The cessation of movement within Nairobi Metropolitan Area shall be for an initial containment period of 21 days; with effect from 7:00 pm on Monday, 6th April, 2020.
- The movement within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and the Counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa shall continue subject to the nationwide curfew.
- The cessation of movement within the counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa shall be for an initial containment period of 21 days; with effect from 7:00 pm on Wednesday, 8th April, 2020. In the intervening period movement in and out of the counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa shall be restricted and supervised by the Kenya Police.
- The Nairobi Metropolitan Area is designated as Nairobi City County, Part of Kiambu County up to Chania River Bridge (Thika), including Rironi, Ndenderu, Kiambu Town; Part of Machakos County up to Athi-River, including Katani; Part of Kajiado County including Kitengela, Kiserian, Ongata Rongai and Ngong Town; and all other areas as set out in the Order.
- Any person, passenger carrying bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, automobiles, vehicles, vessels, railway wagons or aircrafts shall not be allowed in and out of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and the counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa.
- The movement of food supplies and other cargo will continue as normal during the declared containment period through road, railway and air.
- Any cargo-carrying vehicle or vessel shall be charged to a single driver and designated assistants; all of whom shall be designated as such in writing by the owner or operator of the said vehicle or vessel with reference to that vehicle or vessel.
- These additional measures do not in any way vary the existing restrictions and measures, including the daily Nationwide Curfew from 7:00 P.M. to 5:00 A.M., in the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya.
Kenya’s Covid-19 pandemic cases shot to 158 on Monday after 16 more people tested positive for the virus. So far, the Ministry of Health tested 4,277 people on Monday.
