Police in Nairobi have announced that they will mount road blocks on Thika Superhighway and on other roads around the city once the clock strikes 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 18.
Speaking to the press, Kasarani Police Station OCPD Peter Nyaga noted that there had been laxity by members of the public in following the Covid-19 containment directives.
"People should be home by 8 p.m. Those marked as essential service providers are allowed to pass. But people who are from a drinking spree will not be allowed.
"We have told them that beginning tomorrow, we shall be here and they shall spend the night on the road till morning," stated the officer.
His sentiments were corroborated by Nairobi Regional Commissioner James Kianda who noted that the operation around the city would last longer.
He stated that it was unfortunate that essential service providers such as ambulances were caught up in the melee on Saturday night.
"Nairobians should expect more going forward. It was not possible to arrest people because of the numbers, but several revelers were arrested and will appear in court.
“Essential workers and emergencies have nothing to worry about because our officers are professional and they are guided by law," Kianda told Citizen TV.
He also urged employers in the city to release their employees on time so that they can get home before curfew hours kick in.
"We urge employers to use the previous guidelines and release their employees on time so that they can beat curfew time. We are also looking at the matatus who are carrying beyond the required capacity," he added.
Hundreds of motorists spent a better part of their evening of Saturday stranded along Thika Highway after police mounted a roadblock.
They were, however, allowed to proceed to their destinations after three-hour wait in an operation that also included Waiyaki Way and Ngong Road.
There was an uproar from the public regarding how the state was implementing the curfew arguing that most families were already suffering economically.
