This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
As President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to make a crucial decision on the extension of travel restrictions and curfew, a recent poll has revealed that 61% of Nairobi's slum dwellers fear that crime will increase if the measures are extended.
The poll, conducted by Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) between June 2 and 15, captured the experiences, views, and expectations of 579 respondents in Nairobi's low-income areas, including Huruma, Kibera, Mathare, Korogocho, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, and Kawangware.
According to the survey, 74% of the respondents said they have experienced negative impacts on their daily earnings due to the curfew and travel restrictions. The poll also found that 86% of the respondents wanted the travel restrictions to remain in place after President Kenyatta's June 6 announcement, while 79% wanted the curfew to remain but with reduced hours.
President Kenyatta had initially banned movement in and out of four counties, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi, and declared a curfew from 7pm to 5am on April 6, 2020, to stop the spread of the pandemic for three weeks. The ban was set to end on June 6, but President Kenyatta extended it for 30 days and shortened the curfew hours to 9pm to 4am.
