Nairobi suspends arrests due to COVID-19

NAIROBI, Kenya

Arrests in the Kenyan capital Nairobi are suspended, Governor Mike Sonko said on Tuesday as a measure to stem the spread of new coronavirus known as COVID-19.

“I have suspended with immediate effect all the arrests by the Nairobi City Council Government Inspectorate and Enforcement officers until further notice,” Sonko said.

He added that the move is informed by the fact that the operations of all courts of law have been suspended, “hence suspects cannot be arraigned within 24 hours as provided for in the Constitution of Kenya 2010”.

Sonko also noted that the suspension is in line with the World Health Organization guidelines.

He noted that due to Nairobi’s dense population, suspects are held in county vehicles for long periods of time before arraignment, “and that environment violates WHO guidelines on exposure to COVID-19”.

Without providing details, Sonko said all Nairobi County law enforcement departments will remain vigilant to ensure that all the county laws are adhered to the letter.

Kenya becomes the first African country to take such drastic measures in a bid to stem the spread of the virus.

Kenya has closed all schools nationwide including higher education institutions from Sunday after two new cases of coronavirus were confirmed, taking the tally to three in the country with over 20 other cases still in the process of being confirmed.

COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China last December, and has spread to at least 150 countries and territories. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a pandemic.

Out of 186,000 confirmed cases, the death toll now exceeds 7,400, while over 80,300 patients have recovered, according to Worldometer, a website that compiles new case numbers.

The current number of active cases is more than 98,800 -- 94% mild and 6% in critical condition.