An opinion survey by Infotrak Research released on Sunday, April 18, showed that the majority of Kenyans support the curfew rules initiated by the government in a bid to curb the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This comes despite the majority of Kenyans taking to social media to lament over the Covid-19 measures - primarily the curfew laws issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Currently, #UnlockOurCountry is trending as Kenyans vent out over the frustrations of dealing with the new normal.
The survey revealed that 65 percent of Kenyans supported the nationwide curfew; with the North-Eastern region topping the list with 75 percent, Rift Valley 69 percent, Western and Coast region 67 percent.
Only 49 percent of Nairobians were opposed to the curfew rules which were initiated as part of the revised measures by the government.
The Infotrak survey sought to address four key areas currently affecting the country; whether Kenyans thought the country is heading in the right direction, concerns that Kenyans wanted the Government to address as a matter of priority, financial pressures that Kenyans are facing as a result of the pandemic.
Further, the survey sought to find out the effects of the Government lifting the tax relief measures initiated in 2020. According to Infotrak, 65 percent of Kenyans thought the country is heading in the wrong direction.
48 percent of Kenyans want the Government to urgently address the state of the economy, which most pointed out has been at an all-time high. The survey showed that 3 in 5 Kenyans attributed the high cost of living to some of the Government's actions such as lifting the Covid-19 tax relief measures.
The tax relief measures, which began on April 25, 2020, and ended on December 30, 2020, cushioned Kenyans from the negative impact of the pandemic.
The survey comes as motorists plying the Thika Superhighway and other Nairobi routes were up in arms after police officers mounted a curfew enforcement roadblock on Saturday night, April 17.
The internet went wild with videos showing stranded Kenyans going viral. The police, however, remained adamant and for more than one hour denied all vehicles passage, including essential service providers.
Media personalities and celebrities have since appealed to Uhuru to open up the country and lessen the tough measures.
The police maintained that they were following strict orders with regards to Covid-19 containment measures. Uhuru, on March 26, placed Nairobi and four other counties of Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru deemed as Covid-19 red zones, on lockdown.
Uhuru also reviewed the curfew hours to begin from 8pm to 4am in all the five regions.
