Mombasa bar owners have welcome President Uhuru Kenyatta's address that saw the re-opening of bars after seven months closure to curb the spread of the corona pandemic.
Addressing media in Mombasa Tuesday, Kennedy Mumbo secretary Mombasa Bar owners association said they appreciated the decision to re-open the businesses that employ millions of Kenyans from suppliers, attendants, DJs.
Mumbo said the re-opening came at a good time to prepare for the upcoming Christmas and new years season adding that many families had lost livelihoods from closure of bars noting that the business does not only entertain the drinker but hugely impacts the country's economy from the money generated from the sales.
Mumbo however appealed for the president trough his advisers to go round and assess the negative impact the industry has suffered and consider giving them recovery incentives including soft loans.
“A bigger percentage will not resume business since they hire shops and run businesses on loans and in our approximation, only 20 percent will be able to resume the bar business and we call on the government to come to our aid since its our only source of hope.” Said the secretary
Mumbo appealed to the government to consider extending the opening hours to midnight so as to make up for the lost business time due to set guidelines by the ministry of health to counter the spread of COVID-19.
The secretary on behalf of the bar owners vowed to ensure they comply to the new directives so as to remain operational calling on the government not to pressure them so much instead bare with them as they strive to gain their back their footing.
Caleb Mwangi a young bar owner in Mombasa sympathized with the workers who lost their jobs and bar owners who have lost stock that has expired calling on the government to chip in support to help those affected remain in business and continue building the countys economy.\
“We have been out of business for six months and some goods have expired. We urge KEBS to conduct inspection of drinks and food items to ascertain if they are still usable.” Said Mwangi
He added that equipements like fridges, Tvs, speakers and other machines have spoilt from rust and rat attacks, including crates of beer.
He reiterated for government to intervene since they do not know how they will ever recover.
