School calendar uninterrupted, curfew hours for zoned area revised in a ‘surprise’ move

NAIROBI,Kenya, May 1 – Kenya commemorated the second International Labour Day celebrations under stringent COVID-19 protocols for the second year since the global pandemic that continues to threaten the lives of many broke out.

During his address to the nation, President Uhuru Kenyatta sought to allay fears that his administration had lost touch with the situation on the ground, that had resulted to thousands of Kenyans taking to the streets demanding for a review of the measures deemed counter productive.

Many, mostly those in the hotel industry lost their sources of livelihood as a result of the measures.

In the revised changes under public order number 3 of 2021, Kenyatta said that he had received counsel of the National Security Council as well as the National Emergency response Committee on COVID-19 signaling it was time for a review.

The new directives have now seen the cessation of movement in the disease infected zones of Nairobi, Machakos, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nakuru lifted.

At the same time, the curfew hours were revised for the zoned areas to now commence at 10pm and end at 4am with effect from midnight.

Leading to the President’s address also, education stakeholders amidst the flattening curve of COVID-19 infections, had submitted their proposal, championing for the maintenance of the current academic calendar and resumption of learning for all institutions.

“All educational institutions in all levels of learning shall reopen in accordance to the calendar issued by the ministry of education,” the President said.

This now means that schools will re-open for third term on May 10 as scheduled.

The revised academic calendar that seeks to pack four terms in a calendar year will now see the third term end on July 16.

The first term in the current dispensation will start on July 26, 2021.

This, according to education stakeholders is meant to make up for lost time.

The changes will see learners revert to the normal calendar by January 2023.

Institutions of higher learning are also progressively set to resume physical learning.

“As we prepare for the re-opening of schools, let me emphasize again that our staying power in the fight against the pandemic is our greatest arsenal. If public responsiveness to the health protocols goes up, then the possibility of further de-escalating the containment measures is within reach. Sadly, a surge of infections will necessitate an escalation of the containment measures, a possibility we all dread,” he said.

With teachers being identified as frontline workers, the teacher’s employer-the Teachers Service Commission, has reserved 622 centers on its website where teachers can access the vaccine as one of the means to protect the most vulnerable.

Further changes in the public order 3 of 2021 will also see operations of restaurants and eateries in the zoned areas resume in accordance to the guidelines issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and Tourism.

Restaurants had been forced to downsize their staff and only allowed to serve food meant for delivery only.

Eateries are now encouraged to utilize outdoor spaces to maximize on physical and social distancing.

Bars across the country will also resume operations until 7pm.

Worship areas will allow in person and congregational worship, “in strict fidelity to the guidelines issued by the interfaith council and the ministry of health. However the attending congregation is still capped to one third of the capacity of the place of worship.”

Mosques and churches in the five zoned areas had been forced to result to use technology in relaying live proceedings.

Weeks after a section of sports men and women were vaccinated following calls to resume activities, the Ministry of Health jointly with the ministry of sports are expected to release regulations on its implementation.

Political gatherings which had previously been accused of being ’super spreader events’ remain prohibited while hospitals are directed to limit the number of visitors for hospitalized patients to one visitor per patient per day.