This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
Kenya Police have intensified their efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 by launching a door-to-door campaign to enforce the mandatory wearing of face masks in public places.
According to a directive by the Ministry of Health, police have been ordered to arrest individuals who fail to wear masks or those who wear masks but do not cover their mouths and noses.
Field officers have been instructed to file daily returns on the crimes to police headquarters for action.
On May 15, Head of Police Operations Henry Barmao issued an internal memo outlining the new measures, which include the arrest of individuals who fail to comply with the mask-wearing directive.
Barmao also instructed officers to book suspects in a specific format, starting with their names and ages, followed by the vehicles affected and the action taken.
As of now, hundreds have been arrested and are slated for prosecution.
The move comes as President Uhuru Kenyatta extended the country's nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew by 21 days, citing a record rise in new daily COVID-19 infections.
President Kenyatta also extended a ban on travel into and out of Nairobi Metropolitan Area, the counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa, and Mandera until June 6, 2020.
On May 16, President Kenyatta urged Kenyans to remain vigilant against the disease, saying, "The whole world is walking through the valley of the shadow of death."
He also ordered the closure of Kenya's borders with Tanzania and Somalia, except for cargo shipments, which will be subject to COVID-19 tests before entry.
