The Immigration Department is working towards establishing a virtual system to serve the hundreds of clients seeking travel documents at its Nyayo House headquarters as part of measures to minimise novel Coronavirus infection.

While acknowledging on Monday that it will deal only with urgent and critical issues, as a first measure, the immigration department has closed the banking halls and serving clients from an open-air space.

This is particularly happening at the Foreign Management Services unit.

According to Immigration Director General, Alexander Muteshi, this move is meant to minimise congestion in the baking halls, which are usually parked.

“We are asking our clients to use our online platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and other virtual communication channels to reach us, instead of coming here. Our lines are also open for those who want to do enquiries,” the DG said through the department’s communication officer, Peter Mbugua.

He admitted that whereas it could be the department’s wish that clients observe the directive issued on Sunday evening by the head of state, that government offices will only be dealing with very essential issues, the DG said, it was difficult to stop people from coming to Nyayo House.

“However, we are trying to manage the situation by ensuring maximum ventilation in our offices, banking halls, holding places; and if possible having people in an open space,” he added even as those huge crowds that normally throng the area looked thin.

At the Central Police Station, OCS, Simon Kerich said strict measures have already been stepped up including sanitising people visiting the facility, and those who are in the cells.

Kerich said that in line with Sunday afternoon’s directive by the National Council for Administration of Justice, the police will not arrest persons described as petty offenders. “Those ones we are not arresting. We will only focus on serious crimes such as murder,” he said.

On Sunday afternoon, NCAJ headed by CJ David Maraga asked the police to deal with petty offenders at the police station level in line with guidelines issues by the IG, Hillary Mutyambahi.