Motorists were last night allowed in and out of Nairobi and Machakos counties past 8.00 pm, stipulated curfew time following a road accident along Nairobi-Mombasa highway.
Shaban Mzungu (SP) who is in charge of police officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit manning the Katumani road block along the highway said the accident which occurred at Kapiti plains caused a traffic snarl up leading to delay of motorists to beat the 8.00 pm o’clock deadline.
Mzungu addressed the press at the roadblock during the operations. There was a downpour when reporters checked at the roadblock at around 9.00 pm.
Mzungu said they will conduct the exercise professionally stating that only those permitted to operate through the roadblocks will be allowed to get through them.
Machakos county commissioner, Fredrick Ndunga warned officers manning all ten road blocks in the county to be professional in there daily operations and not to engage in pertaking of “bribes”.
The county security chair said that tough disciplinary measures will be taken against members of the public who will be caught flouting the new containment measures prescribed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
He warned boda boda operators against being used as virus spreaders by ferrying people through “panya” routes.
Mr Ndunga stated firmly that all PSV’s should ensure temperature check and fumigate the vehicles after every trip.
In Machakos county, the roadblocks had been erected at Katumani – Machakos junction along Nairobi – Mombasa highway, Katuaa along Machakos-Wote Road, at Kali along Machakos-Mbooni Road and Kwa Mutisya along Kimutwa-Kwa Mutisya road.
Other roadblocks are at Kavumbu along Masii-Tawa Road, Mbaikini-Muthetheni-Ikalaasa Road, Tiva Bridge along Machakos-Kitui Road, Kambi La Mawe along Ndalani-Kambi, Kavingo along Kyua-Kanyangi Road within Yatta Sub County and Kaburu Dam along Embu-Kanyonyo Road within Yatta sub-county.
President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26th announced reviewed coronavirus measures, 14 days after his last speech on the Covi-19.
He announced cessation of all movement into and out of five counties: Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru, said to be disease infected areas.
Curfew hours were also revised to 8pm-4am in the zoned areas, but shall remain from 10pm-4am in the other parts of the country.