By Nsunjo Erica
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has issued a clarification on the ban on alcohol, saying hotels can only sell alcoholic drinks to clients in their private rooms and not in a public space.
President Kenyatta banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in all restaurants in Kenya and directed that all bars remain closed indefinitely however, it wasn’t clear whether hotels were or not permitted to sell alcohol too.
The Tourism CS made the clarification in a letter to Mr. Mike Machado, Chief Executive Officer Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers, who had sought the Ministry’s advice on the matter.
“The President’s announcement on the issue of the sale of alcohol was clear that alcohol should not be sold to the public in hotels/restaurants to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, after consultation with the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, serving of alcohol can only be served in private and in their rooms and not in the public domain,” reads the letter dated August 4, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta last month in an address as part of the country’s COVID-19 containment measures said there shall be no selling of alcohol in eateries or restaurants starting the midnight of Monday, July 27, 2020.
The President also directed the Inspector General of Police to withdraw all licenses of bars that will be found operating against his directive.
“The license for such bars, once withdrawn, will be permanent,” said the President as he addressed the nation on Monday, July, 27th 2020.
Last month additionally, Kenya’s Ministry Of Health drafted a proposal that anybody consuming alcohol in public shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 20,000 shillings or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.
The Ministry Of Health Kenya made it clear that consumption of any alcoholic drink in a public place during this COVID – 19 period is banned and that anyone found contravening this rule will have committed an offense.
This came as a result of some Kenyans repeatedly flouting directives meant to curtail COVID-19, Kenyans were caught on camera drinking in bars and restaurants during the night, some drinking up to 5 am.