Kenyan Court Halts Mandatory Vaccination Order...Rules "Government Order Suspended"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] A Kenyan court has halted the Kenyan government's mandate requiring COVID-19 vaccination for access to public services for those who have not completed vaccination. The court ruled to suspend the government order until a hearing on the constitutional controversy takes place. As vaccination mandates continue among health authorities worldwide, it is expected that domestic and international debates will intensify.

According to AFP on the 14th (local time), Anthony Mrima, a judge of the Kenyan High Court, ruled to suspend the Kenyan government's vaccine mandate that restricts access to public services and facilities for those who do not present vaccination certificates. Judge Mrima stated that the government order would be suspended until a hearing is held on a petition filed by a businessman claiming the order violates the constitution.

Previously, the Kenyan government announced last month that starting from the 21st, people must present vaccination certificates to use public services including hospitals, schools, tax offices, and immigration offices. Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya's Minister of Health, actively defended the government's vaccination mandate on the 12th, stating in a press release, "Vaccination has become even more important due to the emergence of the Omicron variant."

However, activists including the human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) have criticized the government's vaccination mandate as discriminatory and urged the government to withdraw the plan. HRW pointed out, "While the government has an obligation to protect citizens from serious public health threats, the measures must be reasonable," and noted that there is not enough vaccine stock to vaccinate all adults by the 21st.

Kenya had previously set a goal to complete vaccination for 27 million people by the end of next year, but so far only 3.2 million people, or 12% of the adult population, have completed vaccination. According to Kenyan health authorities, as of the 13th, Kenya's cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 256,484, with a total of 5,349 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.