[PHOTOS] Food-filled mkokotenis: Eastleigh stocks up as lockdown extended

Eastleigh was under tight security on Thursday following the extension of the lockdown of the area for another 15 days.

The cessation of movement will be in effect until June 6, the government announced on Wednesday.

During the period, restaurants, eateries and malls are to remain closed.

On Thursday, men were seen ferrying food to estates using carts, popularly referred to as mkokotenis.

Police officers at General Waruinge Street direct vehicles in Eastleigh Estate in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.
Image: FREDERICK OMONDI

County workers were also seen fumigating the area.

Motorists were stopped as they sought in entry into Eastleigh as they showed their certificates verifying they were essential service providers.

Eastleigh and Old Town were partially locked down by the government on May 6 after they emerged as the country’s coronavirus hotspots with most of the positive cases.

Movement of people within the two areas is, however, allowed.

The directive is expected to further hurt the operations of small and medium size enterprises especially in Eastleigh which is already suffering from broken supply chains owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Police officers at General Waruinge Street direct vehicles in Eastleigh Estate in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.

Cart pusher ferries food into Eastleigh in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.

Police officers at General Waruinge Street on May 21, 2020.

A police officer at General Waruinge directs vehicles at road block leading into Eastleigh Estate in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.

Cart pusher ferries food into Eastleigh in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.

Nairobi county worker clears the bush along General Waruinge Street in Eastleigh Estate in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.

A pedestrian seeks entry into Eastleigh in Nairobiafter producing a letter on May 21, 2020.

Cart pushers ferry food into Eastleigh in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.
Image: FREDERICK OMONDI

A police officer at General Waruinge directs vehicles at road block leading into Eastleigh Estate in Nairobi on May 21, 2020.