Following President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 15th Presidential address on Covid-19 on Friday, March 26, the Ministry of Tourism issued guidelines to domestic and international tourists stuck in the country.
The tourists who are in different parts of Kenya and need to travel back home via Nairobi were allowed to do so by Monday, March 29.
The CS Najib Balala led ministry, also added that domestic flights will cease from Monday, March 29 at mid-day.
"Tourist who are in the country and are scheduled to visit different offerings that are out of Nairobi have been given until Monday, March 29 to do so. After that date, they will be confined into Nairobi," the notice read.
International flights will however not be affected. All passengers arriving must adhere to all protocols including presenting a Covid-19 certificate acquired no more than 96 hours prior to arrival in the country.
Restaurants and eateries in Nairobi, Machakos, Kajiado, Kiambu and Nakuru were directed to provide only takeaway services effective Saturday, March 27.
Eateries in other parts of the country will continue adhering to guidelines that have been laid down by the Ministry of Health, failure to which appropriate action against management, staff, patrons and premises shall be taken.
In addition to offering only takeaway services, hotels have been barred from serving alcoholic drinks in public places and can only offer alcohol to their in-house clients.
To avoid the congregation of people, the Mama Ngina Waterfront will be closed to the public effective Saturday, March 27 until further notice.
These new guidelines will affect the hospitality industry financially, with the sector already having recorded losses since the first restriction measures were enforced in March 2020.
A survey conducted by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) between September 21, and 23, 2020, indicated that, on average, hotel bed occupancy declined from 67 percent in February to bottom out at 10 percent in May, and recovered partially to 24 percent by September.
The report also showed that 64 percent of hotels that had closed during the pandemic period did not participate in any alternative economic activity. However, a majority of the rest (29 percent) were engaged in renovations and maintenance in a bid to adapt to the new normal before reopening.
