Public Legal Information on Kenya’s Response to Covid – 19
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.
Executive Orders:
i. Presidential address on the State interventions to cushion Kenyan’s against economic effects of COVID – 19 pandemic March 25, 2020.
ii. Kenya Approves Roll Out of Google Loon 4G To Mitigate Coronavirus Work Disruptions March 23, 2020.
iii. 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.
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, Articles 159 (2)and 161 (2) (a)
ii. Judicature Act, Section 10
iii. Civil Procedure Act, Section 81 (3)
Judiciary Directives and Circulars
Supreme Court:
ii. Public Notice – Supreme court of Kenya – COVID – 19 March 25, 2020 accessed at: https://www.judiciary.go.ke/resources/notices/
iii. Supreme court judges to take pay cut to mitigate the effects of the COVID – 19 March 27, 2020
Court of Appeal:
iv. Court of Appeal practice note administrative measures to mitigate COVID – 19
High Court:
v. 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
vi. COVID – 19 Regulatory operations at Milimani Law Courts March 25, 2020
vii. Practice note on E-filing of commercial cases to mitigate COVID – 19 in the Commercial Justice Sector March 24, 2020
viii. Administrative directives on Court operations during the period of temporary scaled-down operations of courts in Nakuru and Molo April 1, 2020
ix. COVID – 19 Electronic delivery of judgments & Rulings by Family Division, Milimani – NOTICE April 1, 2020
x. Public Notice – Mombasa Law Courts – COVID – 19 March 28, 2020 accessed at: https://www.judiciary.go.ke/
xi. Public Notice – Eldoret Law Courts – COVID – 19 March 28, 2020
Tribunals:
xii. Notice – Office of the Registrar of Tribunals March 23, 2020
xiii. COVID – 19 Education Appeals Tribunal (EAT) Notice to litigants and public March 20, 2020
xiv. COVID 19 – Rent Restrictions Tribunal – Notice to all litigants, advocates and general public March 25, 2020 accessed at: https://www.judiciary.go.ke/resources/notices/
xv. COVID 19 – Legal Education Appeals Tribunal (LEAT) – public noticeMarch 25, 2020
xvi. COVID 19 –Business Premises Rent Tribunals (BPRT) – Notice to advocates, litigants and the general public March 24, 2020
MDA guidelines, policies and directives:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
i. Highlights of Corona Virus in the country and response measures March 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
iv. 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. The Pediatric guidelines and protocols for SARS-CoV 2 and COVID 19 – accessed athttp://www.health.go.ke/wpcontent/uploads/2020/03/Public-Mental-Health-AW-1.pdf-1.pdf-1.pdf
iii. Guidelines on the management of Pediatric patients during COVID – 19 pandemic March 2020
iv. Guidance for infection prevention and control for Corona Virus Disease in homes and Residential Communities interim guidelinesMarch 18th 2020
v. 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 Persons during 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
Ministry of Education:
Closure of learning institutions, in line with the Presidential directive on containment of the Coronavirus Pandemic (schools closed from 16th March 2020; boarders by 18th March 2020 (CS directives); Universities by 20th March 2020 (UON suspension).
KICD –
County Governments:
xvii. Council of Governors: Press statement on preparedness of Counties for COVID – 19 Download Here
xviii. 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
xix. County Government of Kakamega: Governor announces measures by government to mitigate COVID – 19 Pandemic accessed at: County Government of kakamega