Bars and Restaurants Call for End to Curfew

Stakeholders in the entertainment industry have asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to consider lifting the curfew to enable them to get back to full productivity.

The stakeholders consist of restaurant operators, taxi operators, and fresh produce suppliers who say the restrictions have affected their businesses and caused heavy economic damage.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, the group complained that as they adhere to Covid-19 measures, they are saddened to see transporters, leaders, and elected representatives breaking the rules and getting away with it.

“We would like to appeal to His Excellency the President to consider our plight and lift the restriction on operating hours or reduce the curfew hours, if not do away with it altogether,” said Mike Muthamia, a board member at the Pubs, Entertainment.

“If we continue operating in the current circumstances, our various sectors will continue on a dangerous downhill trend that is likely to result in more suffering and joblessness,” he added.

The restaurant operators further said that more than 30% o their colleagues were forced to close their businesses as a result of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

With bars and restaurants working one shift instead of the usual two, operators have been forced to reduce their staff by half, causing many people to lose their sources of livelihood.