Kenya further eases Covid-19 precautions for economic recovery

Kenyatta also announced an increase of the maximum size of religious gatherings to one-third of normal sitting capacity from 100. The number of wedding and funeral attendees also was increased from 100 to 200, but with strict adherence to the guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health.

To support small businesses and innovators, the president announced that the national Treasury will retain the income tax rate at 25 percent and the value added tax at 14 percent until January and July 2021, respectively.

Additionally, the resident income tax will be retained at 25 percent until January, as well as maintaining 100 percent tax relief for persons earning a gross monthly income of up to $220 beyond December.

However, the president extended the nationwide dust-to-dawn curfew for a further 60 days but relaxed the starting time from 9 pm to 11 pm, ending to 4 am.

Kenyatta said learning institutions will be reopened when the safety of children can sufficiently be guaranteed.

"Let us not focus ourselves on when schools will reopen but how the schools shall open in a manner that protects our children and protects their lives and their health. Let us think first about their health and well-being and once we have established how, then together we will agree when," he said.

The president directed the cabinet secretary for education to immediately issue a calendar for the resumption of the academic year, once an agreement has been reached.

Kenyatta urged Kenyans to continue adhering to the health guidelines and protocols, to avoid losing the gains that have been made so far.

He warned that he will not hesitate to escalate containment measures in the event that any of the indicators start to rise again.

In addition to curbing the spread of the coronavirus, Kenyatta said the containment measures put in place in March had led to positive returns in terms of citizen's safety and national security.

"In the six months since we started the containment measures, crime has exhibited a 21 percent average decline and traffic accidents have been reduced by an average of 10 percent," he said.