Sale of Alcohol in Bars and Restaurants Suspended in Covid-Stricken Counties

President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed the suspension of the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Kajiado, and Nakuru counties following the high COVID-19 positivity rate recorded in the counties.

The president directed that the sale of alcohol in the five counties be on a takeaway basis, terming them as“disease-infected” adding that the regions account for 70 percent of Kenya’s confirmed COVID-19 infections.

“The operations of bars, restaurants and eateries in the other 42 Counties shall continue as is, but they shall at all times 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.

At the same time, Uhuru announced a nationwide curfew that commences at 8 pm and ends at 4 pm in the five zoned counties and 10 pm to 4 am in the rest of the country effective midnight.

This comes as hospitals report inadequacy of space for patients and beds for critical cases.