The National Police Service on Wednesday, October 20, directed that despite the nationwide lift of the dusk to dawn curfew by President Uhuru Kenyatta, all bars shall remain closed by 7pm.
The announcement came hours after the president vacated the curfew.
While addressing the nation through their social media platforms, the police maintained the directive will remain in place until they issue further instructions.
"Following the vacation of the Covid associated curfew by H.E The President during Mashujaa Day speech, existing measures on closure of bars by 7.00pm remain in place for now," an excerpt from the statement read.
The statement further noted that necessary enforcement measures shall be taken on individuals who go against this directive.
“Enforcement of violation of this measure to continue,” the statement read in part.
The directive by the police service was met by reactions from the public, with some threatening to close the bars and operate from the corridors.
“This is alright. We will get seats and tables from the bars and continue operating from outside. You won’t stop us,” one of the bar operators lamented.
After Kenyans.co.ke spoke to one of the bar managers in Nairobi, he maintained that they cannot obey the directive given by the police because the government is of a higher rank.
"If the government said that curfew is over so that we may boost our business, why should the police give us different rules on the same?
"They should know that alcohol is one sector that contributes so much to the income tax of this country. We Will operate from dusk to dawn!" Victor, a bar operator in Nairobi told Kenyans.co.ke.