The Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya has appealed to the Government to review Covid-19 safety measures.
In a statement on Friday,Director Michael Muthami asked the president to give a fixed timeline on when the measures will be relaxed.
"It is our prayer that the Government will give us a definitive timeline in his next address. We are heavily relying on their support to reduce the level of strain felt by the sector players – both owners and employees," he said.
He said since the pandemic begun they have paid for the annual 18 statutory levies to the government even though they have not been fully operational.
"We request that the Government gives us a waiver or significantly reduce these statutory payments in accordance to our new working conditions," he said.
Bars and restaurants are currently operating at 30 percent capacity and are only open for take-out and deliveries.
This has led to high levels of unemployment and significantly reduced revenues.
The chairman Francis Mbogo said there was no evidence that the current high infectious rate the country is experiencing is attributed to hospitality industry.
"We are therefore not the spreaders. We urge that the President listens to our appeal as our employees, who live hand-to-mouth, need to get back to work and continuing earning their living so they can afford rent, food and school-fees," he said.
“As a sector, we are willing to take the Covid-19 vaccination and the government should consider prioritizing the hotel employees to receive free vaccination, as we all work together to curb the spreads of the virus."
