FALSE: Kenyan businesses have not been ordered to close by 7 pm.

07/08/2020

FALSE: Kenyan businesses have not been ordered to all close by 7 pm.

An article on Opera News claiming that President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered businesses to shut down and cease operations at 7 pm is MISLEADING.

The government released guidelines on business operations for the COVID-19 period on June 2, with a framework for how businesses would operate and incorporate social distancing and other COVID-19 containment measures.

On July 6, in an address to the nation, President Uhuru Kenyatta relaxed some of the restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19, including lifting a partial lockdown on Nairobi, Mombasa and Mandera.

The president also announced the resumption of local and international flights and religious gatherings. However, he extended the duration of the night curfew by a further 30 days.

The article claims that this directive was issued due to the high spread of COVID-19”in Kenya.

However, on July 27, the president ordered an extension of the nationwide curfew for a further 30 days and pulled back the closure time for restaurants and eateries from 8 pm to 7 pm. He also banned the sale of alcoholic drinks and beverages in those premises for 30 days, while directing that bars and pubs remain closed.

The presidential directives were specific to restaurants, eateries, bars and pubs. It does not affect operations of other businesses provided they follow government guidelines for their operations during COVID-19

PesaCheck has looked into the claim that President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered all businesses to close by 7 pm, and finds it to be MISLEADING.

This message is brought to you by Sky fm in collaboration with Code For Africa’s iLab Data Journalism Program supported by DW Akademie