This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
On July 8, 2019, Interior Secretary Fred Matiang'i declared the Kenya Revenue Authority headquarters and its offices nationwide as protected areas under the Protected Areas Act.
This move effectively prohibits individuals from accessing these areas without permission, with violators facing a maximum Sh. 5,000 fine or up to two years in jail.
According to the notice, 'The areas, places or premises described in the schedule are declared to be protected areas for purposes of the Act and no person shall be in the specified areas without permission of the prescribed authority or the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government.'
Offenders found in possession of arms, ammunition, or explosives may face a doubled penalty of up to Sh. 10,000 or five years in jail.
The law also prohibits the creation of sketches, obtaining records, or transmitting information about protected areas through photography or other means.
Protected areas under the law include military barracks, government mines, State House and Lodges, signal stations, and foreign embassies, among others.
