Curfews: who can order one and what happens if you break it
Public Order Act; National Police Service · sources read 5 Oct 2026
The Cabinet Secretary, on the Inspector-General of Police's advice, can order people in an area to stay indoors during set hours unless they hold a written permit. Breaking a curfew can mean a fine of up to KSh 10,000, up to 3 months in jail, or both.
- Deadline
- A curfew covering more than 10 straight daylight hours can last at most 3 days; one covering fewer daylight hours, at most 7 days.
- Where
- Permits come from the authority named in the curfew order; questions go to your local police station
Steps
- Check the published curfew order for your area: it sets the area, the hours and who gives permits.
- If you must be out during curfew hours, get a written permit from the authority named in the order and keep to its conditions.
- With a permit, carry a light that can be seen from 25 feet (about 7.5 metres) whenever you are out after dark.
Watch out
- Breaking the curfew or your permit's conditions is an offence: a fine of up to KSh 10,000, up to 3 months in jail, or both.
- Carrying an offensive weapon in a curfew area during curfew hours, without lawful excuse, is a separate offence.
- Senior police officers can also close off specific premises for up to 28 days, but such an order cannot stop you entering your own home.
Who this covers
- Everyone in the area named in the curfew order, or the group of people the order names.
Official sources (1)
- Public Order Act (Cap. 56), version of 31 December 2022 new.kenyalaw.org · read 5 Oct 2026