This archive report was first published on 9 July 2020.
As Kenya lifts travel bans and restrictions, many Kenyans remain uncertain about returning to work. According to a recent survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), three in every five employed Kenyans were absent from work in May.
The survey, conducted between May 30 and June 6, found that 61.9 percent of Kenyans did not report to work in May. The main reasons for their absence were stay-at-home directives by the State and their employers, as well as travel bans into and out of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi counties.
Of those absent, 75.9 percent kept off due to the stay-at-home directives, while 21.4 percent were forced to miss work due to travel bans. A further 0.4 percent of employees were in quarantine.
Despite the lifting of travel bans, many employees remain uncertain about when they will return to work. The survey found that 77.8 percent of respondents who were absent from work were unsure when they would return.
Kenya's economy has been severely impacted by the pandemic, with many businesses forced to close in March. The government has since implemented various measures to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, including laying off staff, effecting salary cuts, and sending others on unpaid leave.
On Wednesday, Kenya confirmed 278 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 8,528 with 169 deaths. The country's President, Uhuru Kenyatta, lifted the travel ban on Monday, allowing air, rail, and road transport to resume.
