Time has come for stiffer measures, Matiangi says as coronavirus cases rise

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has ordered a crackdown on pedestrians and bodaboda operators flouting the travel restriction orders by sneaking through alternative routes to avoid police manned roadblocks.

The CS on Wednesday stated that those found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with firmly.

“The irresponsibility and recklessness you see around is shocking yet you can see clearly over 800 people died in New York alone… A time has come for stiffer measures and we need to discuss. This is what I’m telling the IG, we cannot continue with these games,” said the Interior CS.

The number of coronavirus cases in Kenya stood at 179 with six deaths and seven recoveries recorded as of Wednesday, April 8.

A spot check by Citizen TV on some of the Nairobi metropolitan barricades showed some Kenyans are still determined to flout the regulations banning movement in and out of Nairobi.

At Shompole area of Kajiado County, just one kilometre away from Kiserian, passengers were dropping off away from the barricade and sneaking through the bush.

They claimed that the positioning of the barricades cuts them off from essential services.

Some drivers claiming that officers manning the barriers are not taking time to read their clearance letters.

After moving the barricade to Kona Baridi area of Kajiado County, Matiang’i expressed his displeasure on the manner in which a section of the population is treating the restrictions.

The situation was the same in Isinya where some motorists claiming to drive essential service vehicles said they were barred yet pedestrians crossed freely.

At Rironi area, vehicles ferrying especially foodstuff were allowed through but those without clearance were turned away.