Relief for builders as site workers exempted from night curfew

Construction sites across the country will now be allowed to operate during curfew hours following a government’s decision to list builders among entities and individuals offering essential services under its enhanced national response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his 14th Presidential address on Covid-19 on Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta extended the 10 pm to 4 am curfew by 60 days, saying only essential workers and people working in construction and factories operating two shifts will be exempted from restriction.

“To provide business continuity during the containment period, exemption on the application of curfew is hereby granted to essential services providers, factories and construction sites to operate night shifts,” President Kenyatta said.  

Previously, those exempted from curfew included health professionals, Kenya Power, telecoms, fire brigade and other emergency response services, journalists, administration officers, public health and sanitation officers as well as banks and supermarkets.

Project delays

The listing of builders among essential workers is partly informed by the government’s desire to complete most of its ongoing infrastructure projects before the General Election next year.

The government is also keen on keeping construction sites open to accelerate the country’s economic recovery, with official figures showing the industry grew 16.2% in the third quarter of 2020 compared to a similar period in 2019, injecting Sh135 billion into the economy.

READ: Cement sales near all-time high despite Covid-19 lockdown

Since January, cabinet secretaries have been criss-crossing the country to inspect national government projects – most of which have been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

The night curfew was blamed for delays in projects completion last year since construction sites operated fewer hours a day especially during the original 7 pm to 5 am curfew.

Safety precautions

But even with the curfew exemption, site workers will still be required to adhere to the Covid-19 protocols including social distancing, even if it means altering working practices.

Personal protective equipment such as gloves and face masks should be provided on site, while hand washing and sanitising points should be placed all over the site for easy access.

Site workers should not be allowed to share tools, and where that is not possible the devices should be properly cleaned and disinfected after each use. Besides, site managers are required to limit the number of workers and visitors allowed on site.

Workers should be screened for Covid-19 symptoms before admission to a jobsite and any employee who displays symptoms should be advised to go for testing and self-quarantine until they receive negative test results.

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