President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced a raft of measures to contain the resurgence of Covid-19, meaning Kenyans might have to spend their Christmas under curfew protocols.

In his address on Wednesday, president Kenyatta said from Wednesday night the Covid-19 curfew will be effected from 10pm to 4am daily, moving from the current 11pm.

The head of state also directed that all bars and restaurants be open to the public but shut their doors by 9pm each day.

"I further urge all hotels, eateries, bars and other establishments that serve alcohol on wholesale to do all that is necessary to ensure enhanced compliance with the Ministry of Health guidelines. Those who fail will have their establishments immediately shut down," Kenyatta said.

This directive will see party-goers forced to adapt to a different kind of Christmas, the season when many Kenyans are known to over-indulge in alcohol and eating, mainly outdoors.

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On the other hand, restaurant and bar owners will have to grapple with shorter operating times coming a month after they were permitted to operate until 10pm ahead of the 11pm curfew.

Kenyatta however said orders issued earlier on religious gatherings will remain the same.

"Other than for the purpose of a wedding or funeral, religious gatherings shall have no more than one third of its seating capacity occupied," he indicated.

He also banned political gatherings, coming only one day after Deputy President William Ruto announced the suspension of all his public engagements citing a rise in Covid-19 infections.

Kenyatta announced that learners in Grade 4, Class 8 and Form Four will continue with classes normally while strictly observing protocols with in-person learning set to resume in January.

His relaxation of Covid-19 measures last month saw heightened political activities and alcohol consumption resulting in a spike in infections countrywide as many Kenyans started acting normally.

The National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) also recently announced that the reopening of bars and sale of alcohol also resulted in a sharp rise drink driving and a spike in road carnage.

He also directed that senior public servants, including Cabinet Secretaries, their Principal Secretaries and Cabinet Administrative Secretaries scale down their public engagements.

He also ordered that all State and public officers who are immuno-compromised to henceforth work remotely in order to ensure they are safe from the Coronavirus.