Kenya: Over 1,300 bars and eateries staff in COVID-19 safety training

Owners, operators, and staff of 1,312 bars and eateries across the country have so far been trained on COVID-19 safety protocols as the country gears towards full economic recovery.

Speaking during a training event held in Mweiga in Kieni Sub-County in Nyeri, AMREF Programs Manager Lenah Kanyagi said AMREF is working alongside Kenya Breweries Limited to enhance awareness among bars and eateries for vibrant businesses and safe workplaces for the staff and clients.

“We have commenced this campaign of raising the bar in collaboration with the national Government, county government, and Kenya Breweries Limited to create and enhance awareness on COVID-19 safety protocols in eateries and bars in more than 40 counties.

“We have a target to conduct this training in more than 10,000 bars and eateries establishments to make sure that businesses continue with their operations as usual. While doing this, we also want to make sure that we mitigate the spread of the disease not only in these workplaces but also in our homes,” she said.

Through the program dubbed Raising the Bar with Tusker, bar and eateries in different parts of the country are trained on COVID-19 safety protocols to help the hospitality industry operate in a safe environment.

The training has been conducted in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu, Samburu, Nakuru, Kericho, and Baringo counties.

The program which was officially rolled out in December 2020 is a Ksh. 330 million initiative funded by Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) to provide bars and eateries support to help them recover from the negative impacts of COVID-19.

Speaking at the same event, Kieni West Sub-County Health Officer, Edwin Ndegwa, said that the training would not only help the players in the hospitality industry overcome the challenges occasioned by COVID-19 but also the Government in its constant endevour for economic recovery.

“Since the advent of Covid-19 pandemic, our businesses were adversely affected. With this partnership by our Government, KBL, and community health volunteers, we are bouncing back to a better business environment,” said Mr. Ndegwa.

“As you have seen in here in Kieni West, we are now open, our businesses are running, and our people are adhering to health protocols,” he added.

The health officer also said that through the initiative, the county would curb the spread of the virus among businesses operating in the hospitality sector, even as the country seeks to control the disease entirely.

Locally, the Raising the Bar program will provide a much-needed shot in the hospitality industry’s arm, which has over 40,0000 retailers employing over 300,000 people and benefitting many more directly, including farmers.

Article first published on citizentv.co.ke