Sh. 20,000 fine or jail time for failing to wear mask in vehicles

Covid-19 Mask Fine Kenya: Kenyans who fail to wear  a mask when traveling in a matatu or any private vehicle will be fined Sh. 20,000 or go to jail for six months.

In the same vein, failing to wear a mask in public and lack of social distance could cost Kenyans the same punishments. Business owners whose business fail to provide soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer at the entrance will face jail time or the same Sh. 20,000 fine.

The same applies if you violate any of the Public Health (COVID-19 Restriction of Movement of Persons and Related Measures) Rules 2020. These rules are contained in a Gazette Notice dated April 6 by Health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

“A person who commits an offence under these Rules shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both,” the notice says.

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The notice says that users of public or private transport and public transport operators shall wear a proper mask that must cover the person’s mouth and nose.

The regulations, however, do not define what a mask is even after the Ministry of Health said it was ok for Kenyans to use scarfs due to the scarcity.

Police have also been given the authority to detain your vehicle pending your arraignment in court and/or for the duration of the restriction period.

The rules define “restriction period” as the period specified by the Cabinet Secretary in the order declaring an area to be an infected area.

On Monday, Kenya declared Nairobi Metropolitan Area, Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi as Covid-19 infected areas.

As a result, it was declared that for 21-days starting April 6, there shall be no movement of persons into or out of an infected area, either by road, rail or air.

The only exception is for transportation of essential commodities such as food, medical supplies and cargo as defined in the rules. Covid-19 Mask Fine Kenya.