Reprieve for Sports Fanatics as Gov't Allows Spectators Back into Stadiums

• The government instructed sports organisers to ensure they properly utilise up to a two-third capacity of each facility
• Each event organiser must be ready to comply with the requirements of the local and international federations regarding spectators
• President Uhuru Kenyatta said the government was keen to relax some of the health containment measures

Sports enthusiasts across the country are now free to watch their favourite games right in the stadiums after the government reviewed its COVID-19 protocols.

The development followed intense consultations between the Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and her Health counterpart Mutahi Kagwe on Friday, October 22.

However, the government instructed sports organisers to ensure they properly utilise up to a two-hird capacity of each facility to allow social distancing and reduce chances of coronavirus infection.

Amina stressed that each event organiser must be ready to comply with the requirements of the local and international federations regarding spectators.

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"For local events, the organisers shall be expected to provide prior written approvals of the number of spectators allowable for the event by the federation registered in Kenya," the Sports CS stated.

Nationwide curfew lifted

In his Mashujaa Day speech, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the government was keen to relax some of the health containment measures.

Uhuru announced the lifting of the nationwide curfew which came into effect on March 27, 2020, in a bid to prevent the spread of the viral infection.

"In this regard and by the authority invested in me as president, I hereby order and direct that the nationwide dusk to dawn curfew that has been in effect from March 27, 2020, be and hereby vacated with the immediate effect," he stated.

In-person worship

At the same time, Uhuru directed that the number of in-person worship be reviewed upwards from one-third of the congregants to two-thirds provided they adhere to all the health protocols.

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Although available data from health authorities showed the infection surge has declined in the last two weeks, the president warned Kenya was not out of the woods yet.

"I further note with appreciation that the surge of infections has declined over the last two weeks, as characterised by the positivity rate of below 5% that has been registered over this period...We must, therefore, continue to observe the containment measures as directed by the Ministry of Health," he stressed.