<p>A Kenyan government directive that residents must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination by December 21 to access services was welcomed by some businesses on Monday but criticised by others, who said low vaccination rates made it unrealistic.</p>.<p>Only 8.8 per cent of people are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in Kenya so far.</p>.<p>Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement on Sunday. Public services affected include schools, transport services, immigration and other state offices, and hotels, bars, restaurants, national parks and wildlife reserves.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/india-made-covaxin-now-on-uk-s-approved-travel-list-1053525.html" target="_blank">India-made Covaxin now on UK’s approved travel list</a></strong></p>.<p>The government will start a 10-day mass vaccination campaign on Friday, Kagwe said.</p>.<p>Directives about vaccines have split public opinion globally. Some politicians and citizens say measures infringe on personal choice and others say they protect the public.</p>.<p>Carol Kariuki, chief executive of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), which claims more than half a million members, told <em>Reuters</em> the group encouraged all Kenyans to get inoculated.</p>.<p>"This is not only good for business continuity and the economy but also to protect others," she said.</p>.<p>But some local business owners said the directive were not practical.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/uk-reviews-racial-bias-in-medical-devices-such-as-oximeters-1053483.html" target="_blank">UK reviews racial bias in medical devices such as oximeters</a></strong></p>.<p>"Who is going to implement it?" said Franklin Odhiambo, a restaurant owner in Nairobi. "Some of us may want to be compliant, others may not. So, it will create some unfair competition."</p>.<p>The edict comes just a month after the government lifted a curfew in place since March 2020.</p>.<p>Rights group Amnesty International said Kenya would not be able to vaccinate the majority of its population by the deadline, so many people might be unable to earn a living, access transport or go to school.</p>.<p>Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International's Kenya office, said the government directive was unrealistic and flawed.</p>.<p>"These regulations will deprive millions of people of their ability to earn a livelihood, to have access to security, health and transportation services back and forth from home to work or school," he told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>"That’s not how we will win the war against Covid-19," he said, calling on the government to work harder to address vaccine hesitancy.</p>.<p>"It turns what the WHO (World Health Organisation) would argue is an important voluntary exercise into a coercive exercise."</p>.<p>Shoe-shiner Winnie Buong agreed.</p>.<p>"They ought to have done a more aggressive vaccination campaign before lifting the lockdown," Buong said. "I don’t understand why they want to make our lives more difficult.”</p>.<p>Though low compared to Western nations, Kenya's rate of fully vaccinated citizens is higher than the African average of under 5 per cent. The WHO says Africa lags in Covid-19 vaccination rates due to global inequities in vaccine supplies, not because Africans do not want to be vaccinated.</p>.<p>Kenya has reported about 255,000 coronavirus infections and 5,300 coronavirus-related deaths, according to a <em>Reuters</em> tracker.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>A Kenyan government directive that residents must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination by December 21 to access services was welcomed by some businesses on Monday but criticised by others, who said low vaccination rates made it unrealistic.</p>.<p>Only 8.8 per cent of people are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in Kenya so far.</p>.<p>Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe made the announcement on Sunday. Public services affected include schools, transport services, immigration and other state offices, and hotels, bars, restaurants, national parks and wildlife reserves.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/india-made-covaxin-now-on-uk-s-approved-travel-list-1053525.html" target="_blank">India-made Covaxin now on UK’s approved travel list</a></strong></p>.<p>The government will start a 10-day mass vaccination campaign on Friday, Kagwe said.</p>.<p>Directives about vaccines have split public opinion globally. Some politicians and citizens say measures infringe on personal choice and others say they protect the public.</p>.<p>Carol Kariuki, chief executive of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), which claims more than half a million members, told <em>Reuters</em> the group encouraged all Kenyans to get inoculated.</p>.<p>"This is not only good for business continuity and the economy but also to protect others," she said.</p>.<p>But some local business owners said the directive were not practical.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/uk-reviews-racial-bias-in-medical-devices-such-as-oximeters-1053483.html" target="_blank">UK reviews racial bias in medical devices such as oximeters</a></strong></p>.<p>"Who is going to implement it?" said Franklin Odhiambo, a restaurant owner in Nairobi. "Some of us may want to be compliant, others may not. So, it will create some unfair competition."</p>.<p>The edict comes just a month after the government lifted a curfew in place since March 2020.</p>.<p>Rights group Amnesty International said Kenya would not be able to vaccinate the majority of its population by the deadline, so many people might be unable to earn a living, access transport or go to school.</p>.<p>Irungu Houghton, executive director of Amnesty International's Kenya office, said the government directive was unrealistic and flawed.</p>.<p>"These regulations will deprive millions of people of their ability to earn a livelihood, to have access to security, health and transportation services back and forth from home to work or school," he told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>"That’s not how we will win the war against Covid-19," he said, calling on the government to work harder to address vaccine hesitancy.</p>.<p>"It turns what the WHO (World Health Organisation) would argue is an important voluntary exercise into a coercive exercise."</p>.<p>Shoe-shiner Winnie Buong agreed.</p>.<p>"They ought to have done a more aggressive vaccination campaign before lifting the lockdown," Buong said. "I don’t understand why they want to make our lives more difficult.”</p>.<p>Though low compared to Western nations, Kenya's rate of fully vaccinated citizens is higher than the African average of under 5 per cent. The WHO says Africa lags in Covid-19 vaccination rates due to global inequities in vaccine supplies, not because Africans do not want to be vaccinated.</p>.<p>Kenya has reported about 255,000 coronavirus infections and 5,300 coronavirus-related deaths, according to a <em>Reuters</em> tracker.</p>.<p><strong>Check out the latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>