In January 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a public health emergency. This led many countries to impose health and security measures to contain its spread. In March 2020, as the number of COVID-19 cases began to rise in Kenya, the government put in place various social restrictions to contain the virus, including a nation-wide dusk to dawn curfew and cessation of movement in and out of the most affected counties.  As these measures were enforced, there was a reported increase in cases of police brutality.

On 15 July 2020, the Rift Valley Forum hosted a webinar to discuss this issue of policing the pandemic and to explore alternative policy frameworks for the management of COVID-19.

Moderator

Patrick Gathara
Journalist

Discussants

Hussein Khalid
Human Rights Activist

Wangui Kimari
Researcher

Brian Kimari
Researcher