His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed that the cessation of movement into and out of the zoned area be lifted.
While addressing the nation during Labour Day national celebrations at State House, the president stated the order was based on expert evidence they have received and on the counsel of the National Security Council and the National Emergency Response Committee on Covid-19.
“With regard to the Zoned Area comprising of the counties of Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nakuru, it is directed that the cessation of movement into and out of the Zoned area be and is hereby lifted,” he said.
He also revised curfew hours within the zoned area to commence at 10:00pm and end at 4:00am, with effect from mid-night.
“That the hours of curfew hours in the zoned area are revised to commence at 10:00pm and end at 4:00am, with effect from mid-night on this 1st day of May, 2021, until otherwise directed; n this 1st day of May, 2021, until otherwise directed,” he noted.
Further, president Kenyatta said that in-person and congregational worship shall resume in strict fidelity to the guidelines issued by the Inter-Faith Council and Ministry of Health.
However, the attending congregation has been capped to one-third of the capacity of the place of worship.
On sports activities, he said that the resumption of sporting activities shall be guided by the regulations to be issued by the Ministry of Health jointly with the Ministry of Sports.
“That all bars in the territory of the Republic are to operate until 7:00 P.M,” he said.
The operations of restaurants and eateries in the zoned area shall also resume in accordance with the guidelines issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
Restaurants are encouraged to utilize outdoor spaces to maximize on physical and social distancing.
All employers and enterprises are encouraged to allow employees to work from home, with the only exception being with respect to employees working in critical or essential services that cannot be delivered remotely.
Hospitals have been directed to limit the number of visitors for hospitalized patients to one visitor per patient per day.
“That the prohibition against political gatherings is extended until otherwise directed,” he added.
He reiterated that the containment measures that have been instituted today and all the interventions that the government has made over the last fourteen months are geared towards responding to the unprecedented health threat that has gripped the world.
“We have instituted those containment measures and restrictions with no joy. However, as a caring Government, we fully acknowledge that the responsibility bestowed upon us calls for action to secure the lives of our people,” he said.