Health Ministry barred from administering COVID-19 vaccine in schools, churches

The High Court has barred the Ministry of Health (MoH) from administering COVID-19 vaccines to minors in schools and religious institutions across the country.

The court issued the stay orders pending the determination of a case filed by Winfred Clarkson and 12 others on January 20, 2022.

The petitioners challenged an MoH directive issued in November 2021 that sought to restrict unvaccinated Kenyans from receiving government services.

"Pending the hearing and determination of the Petition herein, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued prohibiting the Respondents, their respective Agencies and/or Departments, their Servants, Agents, Employees or anyone acting at their behest and direction, from administering any ‘Covid-19’ ‘Vaccines’ on children in schools," read court documents signed by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court dated June 21, 2022.

They further stated that the exercise was barred “in Churches, in Mosques, or other such like places of Religious Worship and from demanding the vaccination with ‘Covid-19’ "Vaccines" of children and persons under the age of 18 years, until further Court orders."

Interested parties have been directed to file and serve their responses on the motion within 7 days.

"Once responses are filed the applicant to file and serve further submissions as the case may be on the Notice of Motion dated 13/06/2022. That will be within 7 days…" read the court documents.

"The rest of the parties to file and serve any further submissions on the Notice of Motion dated 13/06/2022 within 7 days of service."

The case will be mentioned on July 27, 2022 when the High Court will also designate a hearing date.

The court order comes just a day after the government reinstated the mandatory wearing of face masks in indoor settings as a containment measure to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. 

Addressing the media on Monday, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe said members of the public will be required to wear face masks in confined places such as PSVs, aircraft, offices, supermarkets and places of worship moving forward.