Bars, Restaurants To Operate Freely After Curfew Was Lifted- Sources

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 21- After a night of confusion, the government is set to clarify the fate of bars and restaurants, following the lifting of curfew on Wednesday.

Kenyans who were still on a celebratory mood were caught off guard on Wednesday evening, after the National Police Service in a Tweet said the operating time for bars had not changed.

Under the Ministry of Health protocols, bars and restaurants are supposed to close at 7pm.

But according to highly placed sources, that too will be lifted, breathing life to one of the worst hit sectors of Kenya’s fragile economy.

Of the millions who have lost their jobs, most worked in the service sector.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is set to address a press conference on the status of COVID-19 in the country on Thursday afternoon, during which he is expected to give a unified direction on the matter.

President Uhuru Kenyatta is keen on overseeing a gradual reopening of the economy.

On Wednesday, the President announced a series of measures meant to lessen the economic pain.

Of the measures include the return of the Kazi Mtaani programme, that will see at least 20,000 youth mostly from the densely populated areas engaged.

A whopping Sh10 billion is set to be appropriated for the programme.

But even as the economy reopens, Kenyans have been urged to remain vigilant and observe the basic preventive measures like wearing face mask while in public and washing of hands.