This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
As of March this year, the Kenyan government's decision to close bars due to the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating effects on the country's bar business.
According to Simon Mwangi, chairman of the Bars, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association of Kenya, the 54,000 bar business people have been severely impacted, with many struggling to pay salaries and loans.
Published on June 24, 2020, Mwangi pleaded with the government to consider reopening bars to save businesses from collapse, stating, "The situation is of grave concern and we are urging the government to reopen the bars whose owners have been reduced to paupers."
He also criticized the government's decision to increase tax on sorghum used for brewing Keg beer, warning that it would lead to higher beer prices, making it unaffordable for many Kenyans.
As a result, some bar owners have already laid off workers, and many fear that their property will be auctioned due to unpaid loans.
