Hospitality players plead for review of restrictions
Players from the hospitality industry are now pleading with President Uhuru Kenyatta to relax some of the rules, he announced last week to curb the spread of Covid -19 saying the same has had negative effects on their businesses.
Drawn from the music, hotel and entertainment industries, the players who held demonstrations within the Central Business District , argued that restrictions had rendered many people jobless leaving them with no avenue to put food on their table.
“Most of us have lost jobs. It is high time this government did something. We are young people who have young families but we don’t know where we will get money to pay our bills,” lamented Jedidiah Wamilia who was among the demonstrators.
Wamilia warned of a situation where depression and crime will go up if something has not been done.
Alternatives
“I have never participated in any demonstration but this one I’m in. How does Uhuru expect us to survive? Should I fear Covid-19 more than the fear of my family dying out of starvation?” posed Wamilia
Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) who also joined the conversation under the harsh tag #UnlockOurCountry, pointed out that, the Head of State put in places restrictions without giving the citizenry alternatives on how to make ends meet.
Others noted that business people are suffering because they were forced to close down at a time they were trying to bounce back.
During his address last week, Uhuru directed that the sale of alcohol and eateries in five counties, be prohibited and that all hotels and restaurants provide take-away services only.
“The operations of bars, restaurants and eateries in the other 42 counties shall continue as is, but they shall at all times be conducted in strict fidelity to the Ministry of Health Guidelines,” Uhuru said.
