Uhuru Bans All Political Gatherings, Extends Nationwide Curfew to Combat COVID-19

President Kenyatta has extended the nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew for an additional 60 days as part of the measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the country. 

Kenyatta, who addressed the nation on Friday, further imposed a 30-day ban on all political gatherings, stating that the country is grappling with a third wave of COVID-19. 

Restaurants, bars, and other business establishments across the country are required to close by 9:00 pm. 

Uhuru further directed that funerals, cremations, and other interment ceremonies be conducted within 72 hours of confirmation of death.

Only the immediate family of the deceased will be allowed to attend funerals, with the number of attendees capped at 100 people. This rule will also apply in weddings and other traditional rites. 

Mosques and churches will be required to hold a maximum of one-third of the capacity of places of worship per session.

Kenyans have been urged to continue observing other COVID-19 containment measures such as wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing.

Uhuru said prediction models indicated that one million Kenyans would have been infected with COVID-19 and 150,000 may have died if the government failed to impose strict measures.

"The economy was projected to grow by 6% last year but it only grew by 0.6%. This is the price we had to pay in 2020 for the bold decision we made to save the lives of Kenyans. We do not know how this virus will spread or the havoc it will reign on our population," he noted.

He said Kenya is on track to grow its economy by seven percent in 2021 despite losing over Sh560 billion in GDP last year.