A governor has banned alcohol distribution throughout his county in an attempt to curb the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, April 21, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua stated that the ban would take effect from Wednesday, April 22, and would last until the end of May.
He, however, disclosed that the ban was subject to review depending on the conduct of bar owners in the county.
"There will no distribution of alcohol and alcohol products allowed in Machakos County from tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22, 2020 until the end of May, 2020.
"This order will be reviewed depending on the compliance by bar owners and Wananchi to current laws and regulations," stated Mutua.
The county boss also laid out steeper measures for truck drivers demanding them to refuel their vehicles in only 30 minutes.
"Transit trucks can only stop to refuel and do it within 30 minutes. This is to reduce chances of infection to our people due to contravening of the curfew by drivers and other acts of misbehavior.
"This order takes effect from 5 a.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2020," stated the governor in a statement.
The order was given to trucks making a stopover in the county en route to other destinations
He explained that the county government had noticed that some people were taking alcohol and locking themselves in apartments to party hence putting themselves and many others at risk.
He also noted that truck drivers and turnboys were stopping over in Machakos and engaging in carnal activities which he pointed out was a risky affair especially at the time Covid-19 virus was ravaging the nation.
This came as the governor received praise for his sustained efforts in ensuring regulations were in praise to curb the spread of the virus in his county.
He had previously increased allowances for health workers noting that they were putting their lives on the line and deserved to be properly cushioned from the threat. Measures that saw him clash with the Salaries and Remunerations Commision (SRC).
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and extraordinary leadership. These are not normal times we are living in,
"They [SRC] are talking about rules and regulations. Some of these people are so out of touch that they don't know that the rules and regulations should not control us, we are supposed to control them. But their mindset is just so myopic," he stated.
