President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Kenyans to be patient in regards to opening up the economy and easing significant restrictions given that Covid-19 cases in Kenya are still increasing, “No country has reopened when the number of cases are still on the rise,” he said. On Saturday, Kenya recorded 126 more Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases to 2,600.
Ahead of his address to the nation on Saturday, Kenyans were expecting the President to announce the removal of the nationwide curfew, which was supposed to end on 6th June, and allow movement into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa Counties, and also offer directions on soon-to-be reopening of schools. However, the President announced an extension of the nationwide curfew for 30 days, albeit with changed start and end times, a continued ban on all public gatherings, and cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera Counties.
He said he also expected more restrictions to be lifted by this time, but experts advised against it, “It was decided that, opening up thinking that we are aiding the economy means we’ll just end up destroying it,” he said, “Experts advised that opening up would be a mistake.” However, he said the extended curfew period, which will now start at 9pm and end at 4am, will enable Kenyans to work full shifts and still make it back home on time, “It will enable Kenyans to work full shifts, instead of half shifts we’ve been witnessing,” he said.
On the cessation of movement into and out of Nairobi, he defended the decision, saying cases in Nairobi are still on the rise. The cessation of movement into Kwale and Kilifi Counties will end on 7th June and he said it’s because Covid-19 cases there are reducing compared to a place like Nairobi, “That’s why we opened up where the virus spread is reducing because we don’t want the virus to spread to other Counties.” He cited a case where one case from Nairobi led to the infection of 8 people in Siaya, yet the County has only 8 isolation beds.