President Kenyatta's orders of March 29 to curb the spread of coronavirus now law.

In an issue gazetted on April 12, the new law to be referred as the Public Order Act No 2 of 2021 has ratified the lockdown and curfew orders made by President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 26, 2021.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 8(1) of the Public Order Act, and in view of the serious threat posed to the national security and public order by the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government makes the following Order,” read the issue authored by Interior CS Fred Matiang’i.

The law applies to the entire territory of the Republic of Kenya except the five zoned counties; Nairobi, Kajiado, Machakos, Kiambu and Nakuru.

On March 26, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced new orders to curb the spreading coronavirus.

Uhuru ordered restriction of movement in and out of the zoned counties, orders that took effect on March 29.

All public gatherings and physical meetings were suspended in the five counties until further notice. The Public Order Act 2 of 2021, however, indicates that the law will take effect for 60 days, starting March 29.

Curfew hours for Nairobi and the four counties was revised to start at 8.00pm and end 4.00am. The curfew hours for the rest 42 counties remain as they were, the new law has also ratified the curfew hours.

The Health and the Interior Ministries were directed to offer new curfew passes and revoke the existing inter-county and curfew pass licenses. The act has added 26 new categories of workers who shall be exempted from the restrictions.