CS Balala: Hotels can sell alcohol to clients in their rooms

CS Balala: Hotels can sell alcohol to clients in their rooms

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala has issued a clarification on the ban of alcohol sale announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta last month as part of the country’s COVID-19 containment measures.

Balala now says hotels can only sell alcoholic drinks to clients in their private rooms and not in a public space.

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 to 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 Kenyatta banned the sale of alcoholic drinks in all restaurants in Kenya and directed that all bars remain closed indefinitely to slow down the rising rate of COVID-19 transmission in he country.

Addressing the Nation on July 27, the President said the government had noted with concern that people were socializing without regard to protective behavior in environments selling alcohol, posing one of the greatest risk factors in the country’s battle against the pandemic.

“…there shall be no sale of alcoholic beverages in eateries and restaurants across the territory of the republic of Kenya effective midnight today for the next 30 days,” said Kenyatta on July 27.

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COVID-19 coronavirus Najib Balala

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