Kenya’s cabinet secretary for tourism and wildlife Najib Balala chaired a meeting with major tourism stakeholders and ministry of health officials to outline modalities for the easing of restrictions/opening of businesses in the sector
The meeting focused on ways of coming up with structured ways of gradual reopening tourism establishments.
GUIDELINES ON GRADUAL REOPENING OF TOURISM ESTABLISHMENTS
- It was resolved that every restaurant or eatery seeking reopening to access the protocols as published by the Ministry of Health and comply with them.
- Each establishment should have its own individual standard operating procedures to guide compliance (health.go.ke).
- Restaurants and eateries and their associations to ensure that they mobilize their businesses, employees and guests to comply with public health guidelines in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.
- The cost of COVID-19 testing will be Kshs.l,000 per person.
- There will be no charges for inspection of compliance for existing restaurants and eateries.
- There will be no charges on the compliance permit issued upon inspection for reopening.
- The inspection will be conducted within 24 hours of submitted applications that have fulfilled all the requirements.
The cabinet secretary further formed a committee that will be looking at the submissions. The task force team that comprises of tourism stakeholders will oversee:
- Implementation of published protocols on restaurants and eateries
- Proposals on protocols for reopening of hospitality
The team will meet within a week to finalize on the consultations. CS tourism further reiterated that only restaurants and not hotels in the country have been allowed to reopen after following the laid down requirements.
The National Emergency Response approved the reopening of restaurants between 5am to 4pm daily with diners maintaining a distance of four each per 10 square meters.
