Groups Plan Protest Over Kenya Covid Restrictions

Civil society groups in Kenya have threatened to protest against the tough restrictions to control the spread of coronavirus.

President Uhuru Kenyatta last week banned all inland travel in and out of five counties, including the capital Nairobi, to stop a surge of Covid-19 cases.

He also banned the sale of alcohol in these areas and restricted restaurants to providing takeaways.

Bunge la Mwananchi and Concerned Citizens Alliance say the restrictions will punish ordinary citizens, when political events were the “super spreaders” of the virus.

The groups said they would take to the streets on Saturday if the restrictions were not lifted.

Their threat came days after a preacher excoriated President Uhuru Kenyatta for the decision, saying most Kenyans were suffering the consequences of politicians’ “careless actions”.

Since late last year, political leaders had been holding massive rallies meant to popularise a push for a referendum to change the constitution.

The country is now going through a deadly third wave of coronavirus infections.

Kenya has confirmed more than 130,000 cases and 2,147 deaths.