The government has directed all short-stay accommodation rentals to register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) as inspection is set to begin on February 5.
This comes in the wake of recent disturbing murders in short-term accommodations.
In a statement, the government stated,
“Prioritising and enforcing existing regulations is a critical step in addressing and mitigating these concerning occurrences.”
The statement continued to read in part,
“Effective immediately, all operators of short-term accommodation rentals, including Airbnbs, are required to register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA). This registration process is designed to ensure that all accommodations meet the highest standards of safety and security of guests.”
The government has stated that beginning February 5, 2024, National Government Administrative Officers in collaboration with TRA will start stringent inspections of all registered properties.
“We will subsequently coordinate with booking platforms to restrict unregistered rentals and further institute severe penalties, including fines and revocation in cases of non-compliance.”
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has also formed a dedicated team to handle cases of femicide in the country.
What regulations do short-stay rentals have to meet?
Short-stay rentals, including Airbnbs, now have to adhere to several safety regulations to foster the security and accountability of their businesses.
Security guards are now legally mandated to record the identification details of all individuals entering the premises, documenting their time of entry and exit.
They are also required to temporarily retain all visitors’ identification documents.
CCTV installation is also mandatory and the recording of footage should be up to date.
The increasing number of femicide in Kenya
2024 in Kenya started with murders of women in several instances, with the killing of Starlet Wahu and Rita Waeni hitting headlines.
Protestors in various parts of the country, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and Kilifi, over the weekend, held demonstrations against the increased cases of women being murdered by men.
In Waeni and Wahu’s murder cases, suspects have been arrested and arraigned, with investigations ongoing.
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