The State on Thursday failed to force absolute lockdown in 13 counties in the western Kenya in the midst of a spike in Covid-19 cases in the region.
Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said movement in and out the affected counties is limited with the exception of fundamental and emergency services.
The new measures took effect 12 PM tonight and come months after the nation forced a five-week ban on movement in and out of five counties including Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu, and Nakuru in a bid to stop a spike in Covid virus.
lack of movement checks in and out of Western regions implies that airlines and publiuc transport operators are allowed to enter and leave the regions of Busia, Vihiga, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kericho, Bomet, Trans Nzoia, Kisumu, Siaya, Homa-Bay and Migori.
“Except for essential and emergency services, movement between the hotspot Zone and the rest of the country is strongly discouraged, “said Mr Kagwe in the statement on Thursday.
The solid measures come in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 infections as as daily positivity rates—ratio of positive case against total tests– in the affected counties rose to 21 percent against a national average of 9 percent amid a third wave of the pandemic.
