This archive report was first published on 6 July 2020.
On June 7, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the lifting of the cessation of movement in Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Mombasa and Mandera counties, effective 4 am.
However, the President emphasized that this decision comes with conditions, as the country has not yet met the 100% threshold of preparedness to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to President Kenyatta, experts and stakeholders agree that Kenya has reached a reasonable level of preparedness, but the government will continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent a resurgence of the pandemic.
The President also announced that public service vehicles will only be allowed to operate if their operators have obtained mandatory certification from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport.
President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to practice civic responsibility and become their brother's keeper, emphasizing that the government cannot bring back those who die from the pandemic.
He also called on Kenyans to minimize unnecessary contact and movement, delay non-essential travel, and exercise extreme caution in the use of face-masks, hand washing, and sanitization.
The government has given itself 21 days to study the patterns of interactions and the spread of the disease, and if the situation deteriorates, the cessation of movement may be reinstated.
