Inside IG of Police new plan to enforce COVID-19 rules

NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 5- Kenya police have been asked to swing in action starting Thursday, to avoid reviewed COVID-19 rules, amidst a surge in cases of infection.

Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has directed police officers to “strictly” enforce all the protocols.

In a new modus operandi, the police boss said there will be fewer arrests, to avoid congesting police cells.

Those found defying the rules will be released on cash bail while a plan between the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) on how to deal with motorists on the wrong.

For public service vehicle operators, those found in the wrong, they will have their entire SACCO license of operation revoked.

This means a single matatu has the potential of sending 30 others to the parking lot.

“All police officers across the country have been instructed to enforce the COVID-19 protocols and regulations in strict compliance with the rule of law,” the police boss said.

Here is what you need to know about the new rules;

A person defying COVID-19 protocols and mostly failing to wear a face mask will not be served in public offices.

The President asked the private sector to extend the same to their respective premises.

You have a candidate in school and worried about their welfare because of the disease?

Students who resumed learning in the phased ‘re-opening of schools will continue preparing for their exams.

There will however be heightened measures to protect the students from getting the disease that has so far claimed more than 1,000 lives.

Those in schools are Grade 4 pupils, Class 8, and Form four candidates, as well as University students.

What about the rest of the students?

The President said they will not return to school until January 2021.

About the heightened political activities, the President effected a 60-day ban on all public meetings.

If one so wishes to hold one, the President said, it should be done in a town hall with the total occupation being a third of its capacity.

Similarly, and to protect government staffers drawn from vulnerable groups, he directed that all State and Public Officers aged above 58 years to work remotely, with the exemption of those serving critical areas.

Cabinet Secretaries, Chief Administrative Secretaries, and Principal Secretaries were asked to scale-down all in-person engagements within Government and to take appropriate steps to foster the discharge of their mandates by themselves and their officers through virtual means where possible.

Beginning Wednesday, dusk to dawn curfew hours were reviewed to start from 10pm to 4am.

As such, bars and restaurants will be required to close at 9pm.

To enforce all this, he asked the Interior Ministry to form a special security squad involving the National Police Service and County Inspectorate departments.