You now risk arrest for not wearing face mask properly

Police have new orders to arrest those who do not wear face masks appropriately.

The same instructions apply for those found flouting curfew and partial lockdown. Field officers have been ordered to daily file cases of the crimes to police headquarters.

This follows a directive by the Ministry of Health on various measures to be followed to help curb the spread of coronavirus.

Head of Police Operations Henry Barmao has now ordered the immediate arrest of those who fail to wear masks or have them on but not covering the mouth and nose.

“Similarly, mount roadblocks to ensure no movement of vehicles and persons after commencement of 7pm curfew hours, except those exempted and listed as essential service providers. All vehicles and persons found violating the orders to be detained and charged with contravening curfew orders. Submit daily returns on the same,” he said in an internal memo dated May 15.

The move came a day before President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered a 21-day extension of the country's nationwide dusk-to-dawn curfew. On Saturday, the country recorded 49 new Covid-19 cases.

The president also extended a ban on travel into and out of Nairobi Metropolitan area, the counties of Kilifi, Kwale, Mombasa and Mandera to the June 6, 2020, the same date the curfew is expected to end.

"The whole world is walking through the valley of the shadow of death," The president said. "We have a brutal and unforgiving enemy trying to gain entry using every door, window, every crack. It is asking every single Kenyan to sneak it in so it can attack all of us."