President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the lifting of the nationwide curfew during Mashujaa Day celebration in Kirinyaga, but there is a big confusion in the government itself.
The nationwide dawn to dusk curfew was implemented in March 2020 to curb the spread of the Coronavirus in Kenya.
Uhuru on Wednesday said that Covid-19 infection rates had fallen, with less than 5 percent of tests each day proving positive.
The president announced the decision to lift the dusk-to-dawn curfew to cheers and applause during Mashujaa Day celebration in Kirinyaga.
However, Uhuru’s government is reading from different scripts on curfew announcement as Tourism Ministry and police clash.
The Ministry of Tourism and the National Police Service have differed in the interpretation of President Uhuru’s order concerning the lifting of the nationwide dawn to dusk curfew.
Tourism CS Najib Balala stated that bars and restaurants are allowed to operate past the 7:00pm restriction that had earlier been in place since March 2020.
Balala stated that hospitality facilities are back to operating normal in line with the Ministry of Health protocols.
“All hospitality facilities are back to normal with MOH (Ministry of Health) protocols,” Balala told a local daily.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe, who also spoke to the local daily, stated that the hospitality facilities are free to resume operations past the 7:00pm closure time.
On their part however, the National Police Service announced through an October 20th tweet that the 7:00pm closure time for bars is still effective.
“Following the vacation of the COVID associated curfew by H.E the President during MASHUJAA Day speech, existing measures on closure of bars by 7.00pm remain in place for now. Enforcement of violation of this measure to continue.” Announced the National Police Service on Wednesday night.
Following the vacation of the COVID associated curfew by H.E the President during MASHUJAA Day speech, existing measures on closure of bars by 7.00pm remain in place for now.
Enforcement of violation of this measure to continue.
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) October 20, 2021
Related: Curfew Celebrations Come To A Bitter End As Bars Are To Be Closed By 7PM
