For a fortnight now, the percentage of people in Kenya who are positive for the Covid-19 virus in relation to swabs has been well below 5% (yesterday it was even 2.5%) and yet the government has decided not to lower its guard. At the same time, the hope of having tourists is reopened, the marketing and promotion sectors enlist VIPs to show the beauty and safety of the country, but the curfew is not extended by a few hours, which, at least in holiday destinations, would increase the attractiveness of Kenya and allow restaurants and clubs to work with more peace of mind and a minimum of planning.
Even yesterday, with 123 official cases across the country and proceeding at a reduced pace with less than 5000 swabs a day, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe reiterated that the danger has not passed and that there are still fears of a resurgence after the Christmas holidays, which ended just a week ago. In the meantime, the curfew has been extended until 12 March, and there are still, quite rightly, the obligations to wear a mask and social distances, which, however, are hardly respected by anyone, let alone enforced with due care.
The obvious fact remains that Covid-19 in Kenya, as in other countries of the African equatorial belt, does not claim many victims. Yesterday there were 3, a few days ago there were even no deaths reported (the total since March 2020 is 1720, which in Italy is reached in 3 days). At this point, the curfew appears to be more of a security decision, especially in the capital Nairobi, rather than the containment of the pandemic.