This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
On June 26, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced plans to ease lockdown restrictions in Nairobi and Mombasa counties, a move aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
Speaking during an online session at the Corporate Council on Africa Leaders Forum, President Kenyatta stated that the government would lift the inter-county lockdowns, paving the way for the resumption of domestic flights.
"We are opening the inter-county lockdowns," President Kenyatta said, adding that the country would first operationalize domestic flights before considering international flights.
President Kenyatta had imposed a ban on movement in and out of four main coronavirus "infected areas", including Nairobi, before the Easter weekend of April 6.
He warned that the government would be ready to take further measures if necessary to contain the spread of the virus.
According to President Kenyatta, the decision to ease lockdown restrictions was informed by the country's relatively low number of cases, with just over 5,000 cases and 130 fatalities since the pandemic began.
He noted that the government would continue to balance the health of the people and the economy in making decisions about the lockdown.
President Kenyatta's announcement comes as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
