COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya

The virus was confirmed to have reached Kenya on 12 March 2020,[3] with the initial cases reported in the capital city Nairobi and in the coastal area Mombasa.

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.

The government also unveiled measures to buffer Kenyans against financial hardships arising movement restrictions associated with the coronavirus crisis, including:[89][94] The government also moved to increase the allocation of funds for health care, along with other fiscal adjustments to the economy:[94] The 7pm – 5am curfew announced on 25 March was accompanied by reports of police brutality.

[95] First-hand accounts and video footage in several cities, including Nairobi and Mombasa, indicated that police used beatings and tear gas on 27 March.

Some accounts indicate that detention resulted in crowding of people into small areas, contrary to the curfew's goal of increasing social distancing.

[99] On 31 March, a 13-year-old boy was shot dead, allegedly by police, on the balcony of his home in Kiamaiko, Nairobi, 20 minutes after the curfew had started.

On 11 September 2020, the Ministry of Education, through the CS George Magoha announced that preparations were being made to allow a phased re-opening of schools.

These preparations allowing schools time to set-up their safety measures and training teachers and staff the necessary protocols for handling students.

In contrast to citizens in industrialized countries, some Kenyans have the ability to switch from their city jobs to rural labour for food.