Bars marked epicentres of new infections
By Eric Wainaina, July 28, 2020Alcohol outlets, which have emerged as one of the weakest links in the surging Covid-19 cases after revellers abused the relaxed health protocols, were yesterday closed indefinitely as part of new measures to tame the spread.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, while addressing the nation after a day-long meeting with governors over the rising cases which yesterday hit 17,975, ordered Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to cancel licences of alcohol dealers who violate the directive that took effect at midnight.
In a move that deepens woes of alcohol dealers whose sales have drastically reduced since curfew was imposed on March 26, the President said there will be no sale of alcoholic drinks in the country.
“There will be no sale of alcoholic drinks and beverages in eateries and restaurants across the territory of the Republic of Kenya, effective midnight today (yesterday), for the next 30 days.
Bars shall remain closed until further notice,” Uhuru said, adding that reckless actions by some individuals were endangering those around them, and the country at large.
The closing time for restaurants and eateries was also amended from 8pm to 7pm, starting midnight, for the next 30 days but alcoholic beverages will not be part of the menu.
The move came days after several Kenyans, including Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, who interestingly was the chair of an ad hoc House committee on Covid-19 situation, were arrested in bars violating the curfew hours and social distancing.
Curfew hours
Sakaja who was fined Sh15,000 after pleading guilty to the offence had been arrested with three other people while drinking at 0110hrs, which is within the curfew hours at a club in Kilimani, which is against the Covid-19 containment rules
The President, who said he took the drastic measure after Kenyans embarked on reckless behavior after they refused to take individual responsibility when he relaxed some of measures on July 6, revealed that analysis had shown that alcohol outlets were a major catalyst in the spread of the flu which by yesterday had claimed 280 lives.
“Contact tracing of the recent surge of infections indicates that our socialising without regard for protective behaviour, particularly in environments serving alcohol, is becoming a high risk factor,” President Kenyatta said.
Kenyans, mostly the middle-class have been dancing with death by continually defying the government’s directive on social distancing by locking themselves in bars past curfew hours and holding outdoor events and house parties to kill boredom especially on weekends against the government’s directive on social distancing.
For instance, in Nairobi and other urban centres, several bars have been operating in broad daylight, raising concerns on enforcement laxity despite constant reminders by Heath Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe that the order to have bars closed was still in force.
They include bars in Kilimani, Kileleshwa, Buru Buru, Kahawa West, Embakasi among others urban areas within the Metropolitan area such as Kiambu and Kajiadi which has been ranked as epicenters on the sickness due to high daily cases.
The President said Kenya was at with a cruel virus which he described as “invisible, ruthless and relentless enemy” warning that like in any war, for the country to survive,“ no mercy is shown by either side”
To ensure full compliance of his directive, Uhuru tasked Mutyambai to work with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to have bars that will go against it lose their licenses for good.
“The Inspector–General of Police shall withdraw licenses for bars operating in breach of this directive,” he said.