Kenya Law monitors, revises, consolidates and reports on evolving jurisprudence and the laws of Kenya including the tracking of legislation, circulars, gazettes, policies amongst other public legal information for the use of the public.

In the wake of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID – 19) pandemic that has ravaged the World over, Kenya has not been spared. COVID – 19 has affected the health, economic and social status of Kenya’s population.

In line with its mandate, Kenya Law has kept track of the various directives and legislation that the government has passed in tackling the COVID – 19 pandemic. The various presidential addresses on the state of interventions to cushion Kenyan’s against economic effects of COVID – 19 have had tremendous implications on legislative reforms in Kenya.

Below are directives, policies and laws that touch on public health, fiscal policies, social status (behavioral) and the administration of justice that have been passed, cited and used by the Government since the 13th of March 2020 when the 1st case of the COVID -19 was reported in Kenya.

A. Executive Orders:

i.President Kenyatta Urges Kenyans To Observe Government Directives On Coronavirus April 7, 2020.

ii.Africa To Pursue Loan Waivers As Safeguard Against Adverse Economic Impact Of Coronavirus– April, 4, 2020.

iii.President Kenyatta Convenes First Meeting Of Task force To Marshal Funds For Coronavirus Response– April 1, 2020.

iv. Presidential address on the State interventions to cushion Kenyan’s against economic effects of COVID – 19 pandemic March 25, 2020.

v. Kenya Approves Roll Out of Google Loon 4G To Mitigate Coronavirus Work Disruptions March 23, 2020.

vi. Press Statement: by H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-chief of the Defence forces March 16, 2020.

B. Kenya Gazette:

Kenya Gazette Supplement Number 30 issued March 26, 2020 bearing the following pieces of Legislation;

Pieces of Legislation:

i. Value Added Tax Act 2013, No. 35 of 2013 Legal Notice No. 35: The Value Added Tax (Amendment of the Rate of Tax) Order, 2020.

ii. The Public Order Act, Cap. 56 Legal Notice No. 36: The Public Order (State Curfew) Order, 2020

Kenya Gazette Number 2357 of 2020 issued March 21, 2020 on Practice Directions on Electronic Case Management, made pursuant to Articles 159 (2) and 161 (2) (a) of the Constitution, section 10 of the Judicature Act and section 81 (3) of the Civil Procedure Act

Pieces of Legislation:

i. Constitution 2010, Article 159 (2) and Article 161 (2) (a)

ii. Judicature Act, Section 10

iii. Civil Procedure Act, Section 81 (3)

C. Directives and Circulars on the Administration of Justice

1. National Council on the Administration of Justice

i. National Council on the Administration of Justice statement on justice sector operations in the wake of COVID – 19 operations April 1st, 2020.

ii. National Council on the Administration of Justice measures implemented by the justice sector to prevent the spread of the coronavirus March 19, 2020.

iii.Chief Justice Press Statement: Administrative and contingency management plan to mitigate COVID – 19 in Kenya’s Justice Sector March 15, 2020.

2. Judiciary

Supreme Court:

i. Supreme court judges to take pay cut to mitigate the effects of the COVID – 19 March 27, 2020

Court of Appeal:

i. Court of Appeal practice note administrative measures to mitigate COVID – 19

High Court:

i. Practice directions on Electronic Case Management, Gazette Number 2357 of 2020 made pursuant toArticles 159 (2) and 161 (2) (a) of the Constitution, section 10 of the Judicature Act and section 81 (3) of the Civil Procedure Act, accessed at: Practice Directions on Electronic Case

ii. COVID – 19 Regulatory operations at Milimani Law Courts March 25, 2020

iii. Practice note on E-filing of commercial cases to mitigate COVID – 19 in the Commercial Justice Sector March 24, 2020

iv. Administrative directives on Court operations during the period of temporary scaled-down operations of courts in Nakuru and Molo April 1, 2020

v. COVID – 19 Electronic delivery of judgments & Rulings by Family Division, Milimani – NOTICE April 1, 2020

vi. Public Notice – Eldoret Law Courts – COVID – 19 March 28, 2020

Tribunals:

i.COVID – 19   Notice – Office of the Registrar of Tribunals March 23, 2020

ii. COVID – 19 Education Appeals Tribunal (EAT) Notice to litigants and public March 20, 2020

iii. COVID 19 – Legal Education Appeals Tribunal (LEAT) – public noticeMarch 25, 2020

iv. COVID 19 –Business Premises Rent Tribunals (BPRT) – Notice to advocates, litigants and the general public March 24, 2020

D. Ministries, Departments and Agencies guidelines, policies and directives:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

i. Highlights of Corona Virus in the country and response measuresMarch 29, 2020

ii.Press Statement: National Response Emergency Committee March 22, 2020

iii. Press Statement: National Response Emergency Committee March 21, 2020

iv. Proclamation of the national day of prayer by H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-chief of the Defence forces, March 17, 2020

v. Press Statement: by H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, C.G.H, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-chief of the Defence forces March 16, 2020

Ministry of Health:

i. Public Mental Health education during COVID – 19 Pandemic

ii. Guidelines on the management of Pediatric patients during COVID – 19 pandemic  March 2020

iii. Guidance for infection prevention and control for Corona Virus Disease in homes and Residential Communities interim guidelinesMarch 18th 2020

iv. Interim guidelines on the management of COVID – 19 in Kenya

National Treasury:

The Public Finance Management (COVID – 19 emergency response Fund) Regulations, 2020 – April 1, 2020

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection:

i. COVID-19: Guidance and advice for older people March 2020

ii. Protecting Older Personsvduring the Corona Virus (COVID – 19) pandemic  – March 2020

iii. Guidelines for care homes for older people in the context of Corona Virus (COVID- 19) March 2020

E. County Governments:

i. Council of Governors: Press statement on preparedness of Counties for COVID – 19 Download Here

ii. County Government of Nandi: Governor’s statement on guidelines to be observed within Nandi County following the global outbreak of COVID – 19 (Corona Virus) accessed at:County Government of Nandi

iii. County Government of Kakamega: Governor announces measures by government to mitigate COVID – 19 Pandemic accessed at: County Government of kakamega

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