Police Ordered to Arrest Kenyans Not Wearing Face Masks in Public

Police officers have been directed to arrest anyone found without a face mask in public. 

Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said wearing a face mask in public is mandatory as per the gazette notice published by the office of Attorney-General on April 6th, 2020.

Failure to wear a face mask will attract a fine of Sh20,000 or a jail term not exceeding six months or both, said Mutyambai.

“It is compulsory to put on the face mask. This is through the gazette notice dated April 6, 2020 which was issued by the office of the Attorney General… Failure to that, attracts a stiff fine of Sh20,000 or imprisonment of six months or both. I have instructed police officers to enforce this,” Mutyambai said while speaking in Mombasa on Wednesday.

The notice further directed all organizations, business entities, and traders in a market or enclosed premises to provide water and soap to customers or an approved alcohol-based sanitizer to wash their hands.

In addition, they are required to put up measures that ensure customers maintain social distancing as well as sanitize their premises on a regular basis. Those who fail to comply with these rules also risk Sh20,000 fine or imprisonment of up to six months.

“The Cabinet Secretary may exempt any person from the provisions of the Rules on such terms and conditions as he shall certify in writing,” the gazette notice states.

These are some of the measures the government has put in place to stem the spread of coronavirus in the country. Kenya has so far recorded 225 cases of Covid-19, 10 deaths and 53 recoveries.