The High Court has suspended a directive by the government denying unvaccinated Kenyans from accessing basic services from December 21.
Justice Mrima stated that the directive will remain suspended pending hearing and determination of the petition.
The directive by the Ministry of Health required all Kenyans to show prove of vaccination before they can access services.
“Everybody seeking in-person government services should be fully vaccinated and proof of vaccination availed by December 21, 2021. The development is aimed at the very critical need of ensuring the country remains on track in the containment of the disease,” Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said.
This follows a petition by a businessman Enock Aura through lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui.
The petitioner argued that if the directive is enforced Kenyans will be denied essential services which they have been supporting through taxes without equal benefit.
In a directive issued by the Kagwe urged Kenyans to ensure they are fully vaccinated before December 21 after which they would be locked out of in-person government services.
The services included Kenya Revenue Authority services, education, immigration services, hospital and prison visitation, NTSA and port services among others.
The country has crossed the 8 million mark in the COVID-19 vaccination exercise, targeting to vaccinate over 10 million people by the end of this month.
By Sunday, more than 8.1 million people had been vaccinated, among them 3,251,688 who are fully vaccinated.
The Government is working towards vaccinating a targeted population of 27,246,033.