President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday lifted the almost two-year curfew imposed after the first case of Covid-19 was publicly reported in Kenya in March 2020.
Pressure has been piling on the government to ease the restrictions put in place to contain the spread of the virus that has ravaged the globe.
It has been a tough balance for Kenya and it had to chose between saving lives and livelihoods. The government did its best under the circumstances.
Of course there were some flaws such as selective application of the containment measures, theft of Covid-19 funds and killings by overzealous police enforcing the curfew.
Kenya's Covid-19 positivity rate has been below five per cent for the past three weeks. This, according to WHO and health experts, gives room for easing of the measures.
The curfew was the major remaining containment measure. Kenya has evolved into a 24-hour economy and this can be witnessed in major urban centres.
Lifting the curfew should, however, not turn out to be a poisoned chalice.
We must all act responsibly and observe the basic Covid-19 containment measures such as wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and washing hands.
Ramping up vaccination across the country is the best containment measure. Those yet to be vaccinated should do so for their own safety and that of other Kenyans.
