Kenya has just decided to extend the national curfew, in place every night from 10pm to 4am, until 12 March 2021.
This was announced by Home Affairs Minister Fred Matiang'i on his way out of the National Emergency Response Committee (NERC) meeting, conveying a decision that came directly from President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"The Head of State has decided to maintain the curfew in a bid to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus, even as the school calendar resumes tomorrow, Monday 4 January. At the same time President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended some of the containment measures ahead of the reopening of schools. We realise that we are not in normalcy because of Covid-19. So our President has issued an executive order to ensure the health of our children and therefore an extension of the national night closure."
Matiang'i also confirmed that the other measures that depend on the curfew, i.e. the closure of restaurants and bars at 9pm, will remain in place, as well as that religious or political meetings in closed halls have no more than one third of the capacity, that weddings and funerals cannot be attended by more than 150 people and in social distance, and that all outdoor gatherings and political rallies are banned, as well as sports activities outside schools or involving more schools.