Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has stopped County Askaris from arresting offenders within the City.
In a statement released from his Upperhill Private Office, Sonko said the move is in line with the directives and guidelines issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta to prevent the spread and exposure to COVID-19, commonly referred to as the Corona Virus.
The disease has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO);
“I have suspended with immediate effect all the arrests by the Nairobi City County Government Inspectorate and Enforcement officers until further notice. This is informed by the fact that the operations of all courts of law have been suspended, hence suspects cannot be arraigned in court within 24 hours, as provided for in the Constitution of Kenya 2010,” he said.
He said many suspects are held in County vehicles for long periods of time before arraignment, and that the environment violates WHO Guidelines on exposure to COVID-19.
He added that the Inspectorate Departments shall remain vigilant to ensure that all the County Laws are adhered to.
The Governor called on residents and visitors to Nairobi to be cooperative and follow the guidelines issued so far.