Uhuru: We respect all religions but curfew wont be relaxed during Ramadhan

Uhuru: We respect all religions but curfew wont be relaxed during Ramadhan

The Kenyan government will not be relaxing its daily dusk to dawn curfew during the holy month of Ramadhan, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

This is after several Muslim clerics petitioned the government to have the curfew start at 9pm instead of the stipulated 7pm.

The President was speaking from State House, Nairobi during a live address on national Swahili radio stations: Radio Citizen, Radio Jambo, Radio Maisha, Milele FM and KBC’s Radio Taifa

President Uhuru said that just like Easter, Muslims would have to observe the holy month from their home due to the nature of the new coronavirus pandemic.

“We told Christians during Easter that you cannot mark this day…We respect all religions, but we have said that let us all celebrate and mark these religious days in our homes, on radio and on television. I ask our Muslim brothers and sisters to mark the holy month of Ramadhan like they have not done before because these are extraordinary times,” President Uhuru explained.

At the same time, President Uhuru warned that anyone caught flouting the curfew guidelines would be carted off to a quarantine centre.

Ukishikwa, ukivunja hizo regulations, mimi nimesema hakuna haja ya kuwapeleka kwa polisi. Polisi wako na kazi nyingi ya kutulinda sisi…wakiwashika hawa waende waweke hawa kwenye quarantine wakae huko siku kumi na moja…wakivunja sheria tena waongezewe siku zingine kumi na moja,” he said on Wednesday morning.

Government agencies are in pursuit of 50 Kenyans who escaped from mandatory quarantine earlier in the week.

Kenyans will now be required to maintain a 1 metre distance between them and the next person while in public spaces.

Users of public or private transport and PSV operators are also required to wear a proper mask that must cover the mouth and nose.

Further, boda boda operators are only allowed to carry one passenger at a time while private vehicles are to avoid carrying more than 50% of licensed capacity.

“A person who commits an offense under these rules shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding Ksh. 20,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both,” the Kenya Gazette Supplement No 41 reads.

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coronavirus Ramadhan

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