By Fatiha Shabir
President Uhuru Kenyatta has today lifted the cessation of movement in and out of the five counties of Nairobi, Machakos, Nakuru, Kiambu and Kajiado, effective midnight.
Speaking during his speech on Labor Day celebrations at State House, President Kenyatta announced that the curfew within the mentioned areas will revert to 10pm to 4am instead of 8pm to 4am.
This follows a 74% decrease in the number of infections in Nairobi during the month of April and a 72% decrease in the caseload in the zoned areas.
Educational institutions are set reopen this month as planned, according to the Ministry of Education calendar.
Bars all over the country will be allowed to operate until 7pm while restaurants and eateries in the zoned areas to resume, however, Covid-19 guidelines should be strictly adhered.
In person and congregational worship shall resume and attending congregation is capped to 1/3rd of the capacity of the place of worship.
All sporting activities, as well as recreational facilities, are allowed to resume.
However, the ban against political gathering will remain extended until further directives.
“The containment measures we have instituted today and all the interventions that the Government has made over the last 14 months have geared towards responding to the unprecedented health threat that has gripped the world,” said President Kenyatta.
Hospitals have been directed to limit the number of visitors for hospitalized patients to one visitor per patient per day.
The President also urged employers to allow staff workers, with exception of critical workers, to work from home.
President Kenyatta however warned that restrictions could be re-escalated if Kenyans do not cooperate by following the safety protocols.
“If we will fail to play our individual role, like it or hate it, it is my responsibility to protect life, I will do what I can to prevent what is happening in other countries,” he said.
The lifting of the restrictions comes as businesses and Kenyans at large raised concerns about the state of the economy following restrictions.