From curfew to weddings: President Kenyatta’s strict orders

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, March 12 extended the 10pm to 4am nationwide curfew by 60 days.

In his address to the nation, the Head of State said the decision was arrived at after public health experts advised him against lifting the movement order, arguing the COVID-19 infections would skyrocket as they did after easing of containment measures in September last year.

The President announced the capping of wedding and funeral attendees to a maximum of 100 people.

“I direct that funerals be held within 72 hours after loss of a loved one,” he said.

The Head of State also banned the holding of public gatherings, including political rallies, for 30 days, effective midnight.

In places of worship, President Kenyatta directed the clergy to limit congregants to a third of the worship centre's capacity.

The Head of State ordered police to ensure the directives are strictly followed by all Kenyans, including politicians, who have a high standing in society.

On operating hours of bars and restaurants, the President directed that these facilities should close business by 9pm, as was the case before.

“We are yet to emerge from the fog of war. The COVID enemy has remained unseen. The enemy has also developed mutations,” he said.

President Kenyatta said, unlike other countries which “treated the virus lightly”, his government remained loyal to Science, experts and data in decision-making.

“The approach of both the national and county governments has been that of speedy action," he said.

“We would have registered one million infections today had we not taken the strict measures,” said the President, adding: “You can always revive an economy, but you cannot revive a lost life.”

Kenya lost Ksh560 billion in 2020 due to COVID-19 containment measures, seeing 6.2 per cent economic projection shrink to 0.6 per cent, the President said.

“I personally believe that our sacrifice was worth every single cent,” he said, adding: “This year, our economy is likely to grow by 7 per cent.”

“Our policies and decisions have been guided by Science and data,” he said. “When we escalate measures, the levels of infection go down.”

The President emphasised that the measures were adopted to “secure the gains we are making against this virus”.

“In January of this year, the positivity rate was at 2 per cent. But, by March of this year, it has climbed back up to 13 per cent, and, unfortunately, it is still rising,” he said.