This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
On May 16, 2020, Kenya closed its borders with Somalia and Tanzania in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the closure in a televised address to the nation, citing the need for additional precautionary measures after cases were reported from neighboring countries.
"If we do not take additional precautionary measures and get even more serious in implementing existing guidelines, the number of people who will get sick and die is going to rise sharply," President Kenyatta warned.
The closure, which took effect at midnight on Saturday, does not affect cargo vehicles.
Kenya had previously blocked 78 truck drivers from Tanzania from entering the country, and the move is seen as a significant step in the country's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.
As of Friday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Kenya had risen to 830, with 43 of those detected this week having crossed the border from neighboring countries.
President Kenyatta also announced that Somalia had seen a significant increase in cases, with the number rising from 26 in mid-April to 1284 by Friday night.
