This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
Kenya's economy is on the cusp of reopening, but experts warn that a cautious approach is necessary to mitigate the risks associated with COVID-19.
According to a market perception survey conducted by the Central Bank in May, respondents expressed concerns about the cost-effectiveness of reopening the economy with curfews and lockdowns in place.
The tourism sector is expected to be the first to take off, with local airport services set to resume operations this month. However, hotel operators have expressed doubts about the viability of reopening the hospitality industry under current restrictions.
Kenya Airports Authority has assured that it is ready to implement health screening, operational hygiene, security screening, social distancing, and emergency measures at all airports across the country.
At Kisumu International Airport, passengers will undergo mandatory COVID-19 screening, and an isolation centre has been set up for suspected passengers with COVID-19 symptoms.
Experts in the aviation sector have raised concerns about the impact of reduced passenger capacities on the industry. Consultant Githau Mwaniki warned that limiting seat bookings to 50 or 70 percent of an aircraft's capacity would not work and would lead to increased costs, making flights too expensive to generate demand.
Kenya's predicament is similar to that of American Airlines, which has been limiting seat bookings to around 85 percent of an aircraft's capacity since April. However, the airline will start selling every single seat on its flights from July 8, 2020.
