This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
On June 14, 2020, the Ministry of Health in Kenya issued an order for restaurants across the country to close business by 5pm.
According to Chief Administrative Health Rashid Aman, the new closing hour is intended to allow the subsector to remain profitable despite the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
"For now the closing hour for restaurants and eateries is 5pm," Aman said during the daily briefing of COVID-19 status in the country.
The decision comes after a spot check by the Ministry of Health revealed that several eateries were operating past the stipulated closing time after the government extended the countrywide dusk to dawn curfew last week.
Head of Public Health Francis Kuria announced that "The minute curfew was extended from 9pm most restaurants extended to operate even past 10pm," and warned that those caught flouting the rules risk losing their licenses and permanent closure.
"If your permit has been taken do not bother reapplying, we will make sure it will not go through," Kuria warned.
