To leave no doubt about the interpretation of the words of President Kenyatta, who yesterday, Wednesday, October 20, on the occasion of the National Day of Heroes, removed the curfew time restriction from 10 pm to 4 am, the Minister of Health Mutahi Kagwe, in a press conference broadcast on national television, the next day said that the closure of bars and restaurants on national soil will return to the hours before the pandemic, or those established by law.
The hours for which no special licenses are needed (those granted to disco-pubs, nightclubs or discos allow them to stay open until 2 am) allow the evening opening until 11 am, the time when service must cease.
Except that establishments that play music or anything else until late at night have to apply for a special license, restaurants that organize weekly parties, special celebrations, weddings or anything else, must also apply for a permit from the local authorities and show the same in case of controls.
In a nutshell, "free for all" but more attention to the rules and likely license checks, especially in the coming days.
"With the removal of the curfew, we are bringing back the closing of bars and restaurants at 11 p.m. or the time allowed by the relevant authorities," Kagwe said, "while protocols involving social distances, sanitization and temperature controls will remain.
Finally, Kagwe urged Kenyans to continue the vaccination process, to give a serious signal and continue the effective action to contain the virus, whose infection rates have dropped exponentially in the country.
"Our appeal is addressed to all those who are eligible for vaccination - concluded the Minister - present yourselves in the places designated for vaccination. The gradually decreasing rate of positivity does not mean that the pandemic has been won and that there may not be another wave."