Kenyans will not be allowed to use public transport and government buildings from December 21. Unless they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said. The ban applies to buses, taxis, trains, and domestic flights, he said.
He says that it would also apply to visits to hospitals, prisons, and government buildings for education, immigration, and tax purposes. Less than 10% of the population is now vaccinated. Official figures show that Kenya only had 6.4 million hits out of 10.7 million.
However, the official number of corona cases remains relatively low an average of 59 new infections are reported each day, according to data compiled by Reuters.
Kagwe’s testimony is seen as an attempt to step up vaccination campaigns. Before the holiday season when travel and communication can increase the risk of infection. The government’s target is to vaccinate 10 million people by the end of December.
But that’s only 20% of the total population, so most of the population is potentially excluded from government services. However, Kagwe was also quoted like saying that such measures may not always be strictly enforced.
“We gave Kenya time to get the vaccine by December 21. No matter how much we use these measures, the responsibility for implementing. These measures will lie with the individual,” Kagwe said, quoted by local newspaper Standard.