This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 7, 2020, the government of Kenya implemented a cessation of movement order in Nairobi's Eastleigh area, bringing economic activity to a standstill.
Eastleigh, a major economic hub in Nairobi, is a complex network of trade connecting Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Somalia, and East Africa, with a monthly turnover of Sh10 billion.
The area is a key transit point for goods such as rice, electronics, cooking oil, bar soap, sugar, textiles, and spaghetti consumed in Kenya and beyond.
However, all trade and movement in the area came to a halt on Wednesday night, leaving the bustling neighborhood looking like a ghost town by Thursday morning.
Residents, who had not managed to relocate, watched as police took over their neighborhood, with the General Service Unit deployed for the first time to deal with the coronavirus situation.
Security sources told the Nation that over 200 people had been identified and rounded up by last evening, and would be tested next week after completing a week in quarantine.
Health Cabinet Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman warned residents who were welcoming family members from Eastleigh to be cautious, as they were placing themselves in danger.
"For those welcoming those (family) members, you are placing yourself in danger. Those within these areas, please remain in there," Aman said.
