This archive report was first published on 20 April 2020.
On April 19, 2020, the government issued a stern warning to Kenyans, stating that anyone found violating the curfew order to tame the COVID-19 virus would be put in mandatory quarantine and meet their own costs.
Just a day later, on April 20, 2020, police in Nairobi arrested 39 women of Somali origin in Komarock after they were found flouting government directives on the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The women had traveled from Eastleigh to Nasra Estate to attend a wedding, which was still ongoing when police raided the apartment.
According to police, the women initially told them they were few in number, but the number swelled after several youth joined them for the wedding celebration.
Police were tipped off about the wedding by members of the public, and the women were immediately moved into mandatory quarantine at their own cost.
Speaking to the press, Kayole OCPD Wilson Kosgey stated that the only option they had for those flouting government directives was to quarantine them at their own cost.
The country has implemented a dusk to dawn curfew and cessation of movement in Nairobi metropolitan, Mombasa, Kwale, and Kilifi counties, which have reported the highest cases of coronavirus.
Health CAS Dr. Mercy Mwangangi warned that going forward, all those who break curfew rules would be assumed to have been in contact with suspected cases and would be quarantined for a period of 14 days.
