Photo taken on March 27, 2020 shows an empty street after the start of a curfew in Nairobi, Kenya. A countrywide curfew came into effect in Kenya Friday evening to intensify measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. (Xinhua/Li Yan)
NAIROBI, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A countrywide curfew came into effect in Kenya on Friday evening as the country intensifies measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Hilary Mutyambai, Inspector General of Police, warned Kenyans who violate the 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew shall be arrested and charged in court.
During the stay-at-home curfew, only essential personnel including medical and government personnel, first responders and persons traveling to and from businesses, will be allowed to be out.
The police chief said those providing 20 categorised essential services will however be required to provide legitimate identifications.
Several passengers were left stranded in Nairobi and Mombasa, the two major cities since most of the commuter buses suspended operations to comply with the order.
Most of the termini in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, were packed with passengers with very few public service vehicles on sight.
Mutymbai said vehicles traveling after 7 p.m. will be subjected to police checks to verify whether the occupants fall under the essential services category.
Kenya has 31 cases confirmed COVID-19 cases, with one death so far.
Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health, said medical teams have so far identified 1,067 individuals believed to be close contacts of the patients who have tested positive.
Out of the 1,067, 136 had been discharged after completing the 14 days mandatory follow-up period.
