The government has banned movement in and out of Nairobi metropolitan, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties for the next 21 days to contain Covid 19 pandemic.
For Nairobi metropolitan, restriction takes effect today from 7 p.m while in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale will be effected on Wednesday the 8th April, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced today.
The announcement was made amid reports of 16 more cases of coronavirus bringing the total number to 158. So far four recoveries have been reported and six deaths out of 4,277 cases that have been tested.
Today’s briefing was done in State House the President who disclosed that 82 percent of reported cases of Covid 19 are from Nairobi metropolitan area and 14 percent of the cases are residents of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa.
To contain and limit the spread of the disease to other parts of the country, the President said that the National Security Council has issued the cessation of all movements by road, rail and air in and out of the four counties.
The Nairobi Metropolis has been designated as the Nairobi city county, parts of Kiambu county up to Chania river bridge Thika, including Rironi, ndenderu, Kiambu town parts of machakos up to Athi river including katani and parts of Kajiado including Kitengela, Kiserian, Ongata rongai, Ngong Town and all areas as set out in the order.
The president noted that movement within the Nairobi Metropolitan Area and the Counties of Kilifi, Kwale and Mombasa shall continue subject to the nationwide curfew.
He however, announced that the movement of food supplies and other cargo will continue as normal during the declared containment period through road, railway and air but shall be charged to a single driver and designated assistant whose owner or operator of the said vehicle must have done in writing with reference to the said vehicle.
Meanwhile , in order to scale up interventions against the current health pandemic, the president has directed the National Treasury to utilize the KSh. 2 Billion which was recovered from corruption proceeds to support the most vulnerable members of society, especially the needy in our urban areas.
He also directed the Nairobi Metropolitan Service, to expand their provision of free water to all informal settlements and the Treasury to appropriate all domestic and international travel budgets for all State Agencies within the Executive, the Judiciary, the Legislature and the County Governments and re-allocate them to combating COVID-19.
President Uhuru also encouraged traders and farmers in in fresh produce to continue with their agricultural activities, so as to ensure continued supply of the farm produce to the markets.
