Caption: Police officers on patrol along Kajiado-Namanga road immediately after the nationwide curfew took effect. Photo/ Albert Lemomo/ Kajiado Star
Among those arrested are drivers of public service vehicles and those driving sand harvesters lorries
By Albert Lemomo
At least 20 motorists plying the busy Kajiado-Namanga road have had to spent the night in police custody, for flouting the dusk-to-dawn curfew ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta, and which came to force last evening.
The county enforcement officers arrested several public service vehicles, and sand harvesters’ lorries operating on the road past 7:00pm, and they would likely be released in the morning on police bond.
The passengers on board, on their part, were forced to pay for lodgings in the town, after they were left stranded for awhile.
Confirming the arrests, County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha said: “We have nabbed several vehicles including public services vehicles, sand harvesters lorries as well as some individuals whom we found on the road past 7:00 pm”.
He further cautioned the residents against defying the nationwide curfew, that the president called to stem a spread of coronavirus pandemic, that has already claimed a life, and about 30 people infected.
“Kenyans should be wary of the danger that this virus poses to their families and to themselves therefore we should honour the pleas to ensure that we minimise our movement to only essential services that cannot be avoided.
He further warned that: “We will nor hesitate at any time to impound any vehicle or anybody who shall be found to defy the presidential directive of staying at home for the sake of the other majority”.
A section of the traders in the town, who spoke to the Kajiado Star, have lauded the government’s move to impose the curfew, noting that it’s at the best interest of their health and that of their families.
Peter Mungai, a shopkeeper said, “It is important that the government took this inititative to lock us in our houses for our safety because life is more important than business and if we are all healthy then definitely we have another chance to make money”.
On his part, Fredrick Risa, chairman of the Kajiado Central bodaboda association, urged his members to retire home early to avoid unnecessary running battles with the security officials.
“All of us, are living at extraordinary times and it is important that we support the government by going home early despite the challenges that we have because health is paramount and as a nation we cannot allow this disease to defeat us therefore we should retreat to our homes by seven and pave way for the government to implement the curfew”, the chairman said.
On Wednesday, March 25, President Kenyatta directed that all movements from 7:00 pm be stopped with only individuals who offer essential services be allowed to move with permits.
Those exempted include personnel in the; medical sector, retail, media, aviation, telecommunications, food supply chain, emergency services and security.
