Kenya has opted for hard line and tight police controls to persuade its citizens to comply with the strict rules imposed since yesterday throughout the country, in order to try to contain the Covid19 epidemic as much as possible.
Well aware that Kenyan health care in terms of facilities, equipment and qualified personnel is unprepared to withstand the impact of a growing number of infections, President Uhuru Kenyatta and his closest collaborators have given the Chief of the National Police the order to enforce the closure of all public places, from kiosks selling local soft drinks and spirits (palm wine, homemade brandies, etc.) to the National Police. ...) to any bar and nightclub, giving restaurants the possibility to offer the take-away service, provided that the highest possible levels of hygiene are respected, with disinfectants, staff wearing gloves and masks and distances respected.
Yesterday in Nairobi the police had to shoot to disperse dozens of Kenyans in two densely populated districts of the city, which gathered in public areas and markets, regardless of the decree.
Some bars were closed down and the managers arrested.
Even in Kisumu there were clashes between police and peddlers, while in other areas of Kenya the respect of the rules was largely acknowledged.
In Kilifi County, which concerns us closely because of the presence of many countrymen who from the day after tomorrow to return to Italy will have to wait for the commercial repatriation flight that the Italian Embassy in Kenya is organizing, all the Italian bars and restaurants closed their doors and during the day the local police verified that all other public places did not offer table services. Fines have been imposed and the owners will have to answer personally for breaking the law. The fines go to the Kes. 30,000 and upwards, but in case of situations defined as dangerous (groupings, disrespect of distances) there is prison with sentences of up to 3 years.
President Kenyatta in a statement asked the nation to follow the directives to avoid a humanitarian disaster and that if it is the case it will increase the penalties and use force. To the good end to prevent the country from sinking into the nightmare that has already been experienced first in certain regions of China, then in Italy and now in many other countries around the world, the United States in primis.