Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe

People who fail to wear face masks in confined public places such as public service vehicles, Supermarkets and places of worship risk six months in jail or fines of up to Sh20,000.

Health Cabinet Secretary on Monday announced the mandatory re-introduction of facemasks in confined public spaces citing increased COVID-19 positivity rates in Kenya. According to the CS, the return of masks is necessary to slow a wave of infections as the country joins the world in ramping up against a sixth wave of Coronavirus cases.

Kenya’s positivity rate – the proportion of tests coming back positive – touched 14.5 per cent on Saturday which is the highest this year compared to a low of 0.3 per cent on March 11 when Kenya relaxed restrictions such as wearing of masks.

“This sharp rise in numbers of new infections should mean something to our country – that we must once again take urgent steps to prevent the slide into a crisis like the one we experienced in 2020 and 2021 when we lost many lives and resources,” said Mutahi Kagwe.

The CS also advised Kenyans to seek medical advice or attention at an authorized treatment facility upon the development of difficulty in breathing & adhere to prescribed medication as well as eat a healthy balanced diet.

COVID-19 travel restrictions in Kenya

All international Travelers arriving in the country and who are fully vaccinated remain exempted from the requirement of a PCR test and are exempted from quarantine upon arrival in the country. However, all unvaccinated travellers arriving at any port of entry into Kenya will however be required to be in possession of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, conducted not more than 72 hours before departure regardless of the route of entry.

Kenya flexed covid-19 restrictions in March this year, and did away with key among others the mandatory wearing of facemasks and allowed public service vehicles and churches to operate at full capacity.