The government has announced a crackdown on unregistered short-term accommodation facilities, including Airbnbs, in response to the surge in femicide across the country beginning February 5.
The directive was announced in a joint statement from the Ministry of Interior’s Principal Secretary (PS) Raymond Omollo, along with Anne Wang’ombe (Gender), Beatrice Inyangala (Higher Education), and John Ololtuaa (Tourism).
Further, the government directed all operators of Airbnbs to register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) with immediate effect.
The four ministries said that the registration process is designed to ensure that all accommodations meet the highest standards of safety and security for guests.
“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,” read the statement.
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The announcement comes amid growing calls for more stringent regulations governing Airbnb operations, particularly in light of recent cases of femicide associated with rented properties.
Concerns have been raised and calls for better safety measures have grown in response to notable occurrences like the murder of 20-year-old university student Rita Waeni in a rented home in Roysambu and the tragic death of socialite Starlet Wahu in South B.
In order to assure compliance, the PSs urged the resident associations to collaborate closely with law enforcement through information sharing, cooperative inspections, and coordinated responses.
They contended that the program demonstrates how committed the government is to ensuring the safety of those who use these services.
“We urge all stakeholders in the short- term rental sector to adhere to these regulations, recognizing their legal and moral responsibility in ensuring a safe environment for all individuals regardless of gender,” they added.
The Ministries further called for increased public awareness and action to address the global issue of violence against women.
They emphasized the need for stakeholders at all levels, including the government, community, and international actors, to collaborate to create a safer environment for women and hold perpetrators accountable.
