Residents in Kenya defy curfew

Police in Western Kenya clashed with members of the public as they defied orders to stay home on Sunday night.

Residents in Eldoret, a principle town in the Rift Valley, said they would not be able to provide for their families if they were not permitted to leave their homes to work.

They came out onto the streets in droves past the 19.00 curfew time, chanting that they would not retreat to their homes.

The authorities were forced to use tear gas in an effort to get them to do so.

Most of the residents in the area work as hawkers, mobile salesman who typically advertise their goods by shouting.

The busiest time of day for them is often as people return home from work, however, the curfew prevents them from working then.

A video has been circulated online showing them throwing stones as the police try to get them to disperse.

The Kenyan government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in its efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

There have now been 42 positive cases of the virus in the East African country.

Photo: Jared Nyataya/Nation Media Group