Nairobi — President Uhuru Kenyatta has ordered the closure of Kenya's borders with Tanzania and Somalia to all passenger traffic beginning midnight on Saturday in measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.

"There shall be cessation of movement of persons and any passenger ferrying automobiles and vehicles into and out of the territory of Republic of Kenya through the Kenya-Tanzania international border- and through the Kenya-Somalia international border except for cargo vehicles, with effect from midnight today, Saturday 16th, May 2020," President Kenyatta directed.

During his sixth presidential address on Coronavirus pandemic, he noted that only cargo trucks will be allowed into the country through the borders on condition that the drivers undergo mandatory tests for coronavirus.

"All drivers of the cargo vehicles shall be subjected to mandatory COVID-19 disease testing and will only be granted entry into the territory of the Republic of Kenya if they test negative," the President said.

He said 43 cases reported in the last one week were imported through the Wajir, Namanga,Isebania and Namanga borders.