Police officers in Kisumu on Saturday morning arrested five Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers and 47 civilians who were found partying past the curfew hours.
The police raid which was led by Kisumu Central sub-county police commander, Joseph Ng’etich, found the 52 revelers locked inside a well-known club in Lolwe Estate.
Police officers at the scene were forced to use tear gas in order to force them out of the club.
Kisumu County Police Commander, Samuel Anampiu, said that those arrested would be arraigned in court on Monday, April 12.
“Yesterday at 11.30 pm, a sub county security intelligence committee led by the police commander Kisumu Central carried out an operation in Lolwe Estate where 52 people were arrested for violating Covid-19 protocols,” Anampiu said.
The county police commander added that they would also be charged for failing to wear masks, ignoring social distancing and breach of curfew orders.
In a televised address on March 26, President Uhuru Kenyatta put the country under partial lockdown in order to curb the increasing Covid-19 numbers.
“The operation of bars, restaurants and eateries in the other forty-two counties as is, but they shall be conducted in strict fidelity to Ministry of Health guidelines, failure to which appropriate action against management, staff, patrons and premises shall be taken,” the President said.
On Friday, April 9 police officers arrested more than 40 curfew violators in a club located in the Meru-Laikipia boarder.
Among those arrested were county officers from the Nyandarua county government who were headed to a dowry event.
The government on April 6, announced that drone technology would be used in tracking down lockdown evaders.
Police officers have also said that operations especially in clubs will be carried out in order to arrest those disobeying the President’s orders.
