The number of COVID-19 infections in Kenya surpassed the 260,000 mark on Friday as the country continues to see a spike in new cases heading into the festive season.

The country's health ministry reported 1,609 new cases from a sample size of 7,176 tests conducted over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 260,166.

In the same period, the ministry registered three new deaths, bringing the total number of virus-related fatalities to 5,353.

The East African country is seeing an increase in new cases as Kenyans gear up for the festive period, typically marked by mass travel and gatherings.

Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe has been at the forefront in asking Kenyans to get vaccinated as a way of better protecting the public from the virus.

Besides vaccination, the minister has called upon local governments to ramp up preparation for the increase in new cases.

Kenya is one of multiple countries in Africa that have already registered cases of the new Omicron COVID-19 variant.

(With input from agencies)