81 arrested in Mombasa for defying face mask order

Police have embarked on a crackdown against residents defying government directive on wearing face masks. 

On Friday, 81 people were seized in the six sub-counties for failing to wear the masks in public. The officers targeted areas with high populations including the ferry, Kongowea market and various bus termini.

Those arrested will be charged tomorrow for defying public health regulations. Yesterday County Police Commander Augustine Nthumbi warned that business will not be as usual and officers are enforcing government directive to curb the spread of the disease.

At the same time, some 22 private vehicles and 43 motorcycles were impounded in the exercise that began on Friday. 

The county boss regretted that the PSV vehicles were already flouting the rules by ferrying excess passengers against the directive issued by the Ministry of Health. 

"We arrested 81 people, some were taken to court and released on bond while others were released on police bond to appear in court later," said Nthumbi. 

Mombasa is one of the counties with the highest ratio of infections in the country and has been flagged as a Covid-19 hot spot.