Government Ends Forced Isolation of Kenyan Curfew Breakers

Kenyans arrested for flouting curfew will no longer be taken to Covid-19 quarantine facilities, the government has said.

Instead, police officers have been ordered to lock them in what Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr. Rashid Aman termed as “curfew breakers holding space.”

Addressing the press on Sunday, May 3rd, Dr. Aman noted that the holding facilities for curfew breakers will be set up in a manner that ensures social distancing is kept. Inspector-General of Police Hilary Mutyambai has been directed to oversee the setting up of the holding spaces as soon as possible.

Prior to this, people found outside their homes during curfew hours were being sent into mandatory quarantine for 14 days in designated government isolation centers on the assumption that they had been infected with Covid-19.

They would then be released from the facilities upon completion of the 14-day period if they test negative for the bug.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew, which runs from 7 pm to 5 am daily, is among a raft of measures the government has put in place to stem the spread of Covid-19.

As of Sunday, May 3rd, there were 465 confirmed cases of Covid-19, 22 deaths, and 167 recoveries.