Popular restaurants located in Nairobi Central Business (CBD) have been ordered to shut down for contravening Covid-19 rules.
During an inspection exercise, public health officials on November 6, directed four restaurants including Hot Dishes and Petma to close down.
This comes amidst increased enforcement after President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a directive where eateries and bars are to close at 9 p.m.
Due to increased Covid-19 cases over the last few weeks, officers are enforcing the compliance measures following a directive by IG Hillary Mutyambai.
Already there have been reports of arrests for those flouting the rules with revelers in Murang'a arrested during a crackdown on Thursday.
President Uhuru Kenyatta during his address to the nation on Wednesday said that the government was preparing to enforce localized restrictions in hotspot counties.
"Our two levels of government are failing to enforce Covid-19 protocols. The curfew checkpoints have become outlets for corruption.
"You must remember that it is not the govt's desire to close down the economy, but whether or not we shall remain open will depend on the public's responsiveness to Covid-19 protocols," warned the President.
Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai on Thursday, November 5, directed that anyone found flouting the Covid-19 rules, would pay an instant fine of Ksh20,000.
In August 2020, Kenyatta lifted the ban on the sale of alcohol in restaurants and eateries as he extended the opening hours for restaurants and hotels by one hour.
Health CS Mutahi Kagwe had directed the hotel owners must also ensure that every client entering the establishment wears a face mask, workers to have a food handlers certificate and must give provision for social and physical distancing.
"The operators of these restaurants must ensure they have thermo-guns at the entrance of the premises to screen clients for temperature, provide handwashing stations and soap at the entrance for clients and also provide sanitizers in strategic places at the facilities,” he stated in July 2020.
