NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 17 – The government has advised the public to verify the registration and licensing status of accommodation facilities including Airbnbs as a precautionary measure to ensure their safety before booking their stay.
The appeal follow increased cases of deaths in accommodation facilities.
This is after two deaths were reported in under two weeks including the recent case of a 20-year-old woman in Roysambu that has generated calls for stricter regulations.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua said Tuesday that the government is conducting a comprehensive review of the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) to ensure compliance with regulations in place.
“We urge the public to verify the registration and license status of facilities to ensure compliance with already outlined directives by the government and maintain quality standards.
He warned that the government will take legal action against any violations of TRA licensing laws.
Mutua added that the late renewals will be subject to penalties and other consequences as stipulated by law.
As the key regulator of Kenya’s Tourism Sector, the Tourism CS reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the well-being and safety of all stakeholders.
Furthermore, Mutua stated that the government is dedicated to formulating regulations, standards, and guidelines essential for comprehensive quality service delivery in the tourism sector.
In line Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) for improved business practices, the CS said that his Ministry is conducting a comprehensive review of current TRA regulations.
He added that the government intends to subject the revised regulations to a public participation exercise, welcoming input from tourism and hospitality stakeholders aimed at fostering closer partnerships with accommodation providers.
