Too many rules, too many expenses and too many stakes, the restaurateurs do not accept the guidelines of the Ministry of Health of Kenya and let it be known that for now they will not reopen the premises in the country.
Since Minister Kagwe announced the government's agreement to reactivate the gastronomy sector to the public in Kenya's hotels, restaurants and bars, certain obligatory steps have immediately appeared very complicated to implement, as well as economically costly.
The first to protest were the restaurateurs in Nairobi, some of whom sent a document to the Minister of Tourism Najib Balala.
"While appreciating the Ministry's decision to restart a sector that is fundamental for the economy of the country that offers work to thousands of citizens - reads the statement signed by about thirty owners and managers of some of the most important restaurants in Nairobi - we note that some of the guidelines for the reopening of restaurants are currently unworkable.
The finger is pointed above all on the obligation of tampons to all staff members of each activity, which already means a heavy expense in itself, especially for those activities that have among their ranks from 30 employees and up. Safe tampons, from the Lancet laboratories, in Kenya cost between 70 and 90 euros each.
"Without any initial income, with reduced capacity and without the certainty that people will return to public places as before, it is an expense that cannot be met - say the restaurateurs - also nothing of the kind has been implemented in supermarkets and this sounds very discriminatory against us.
Doubts also on the fixed washtubs at the entrance of the rooms, unsightly and not temporary, because they involve connections to the main pipes, and on the kitchen staff masks, which are highly flammable. Then there is the chapter on licences which, according to the Ministry's guidelines, would have to be renewed after the suitability checks, adding a heavy burden to the expenses to be incurred. Finally the timetable, what is the point of closing at 4.30 in the afternoon, when the curfew starts at 7 in the evening?
After receiving the communiqué, the Minister of Tourism forwarded it to his health colleague Mutahi Kagwe who responded to the restaurateurs in the press, assuring that at the next government meeting the possibility of reviewing some rules to facilitate the task of resuming activities for restaurateurs would also be discussed.
"The catering and hospitality sector is fundamental for Kenya - said Kagwe - we will see to change something in our guidelines to give the opportunity to many to reopen. In the same way, however, we continue to warn those who are breaking the rules by keeping open and not only respecting the take-away permit. Those who break the rules from now on will be able to see their licences revoked permanently.