This archive report was first published on 2 July 2020.
Kenya Tourism Fund has been hit by a double resignation blow as CEO Joseph Cherutoi and Corporate Services Director Eric Kiplagat step down.
According to an internal memo, the board of trustees met on July 1, 2020, to deliberate on the developments and appoint an acting CEO, with a statement expected on July 2, 2020.
The move comes as the tourism sector grapples with the impact of Covid-19, with Tourism CS Najib Balala stating on July 1, 2020, that Kenya had lost Ksh81.1 billion in revenue and 3.1 million employees had been affected.
As the country gears towards resuming domestic tourism, the exit of the two senior officials has raised eyebrows on the Tourism Ministry's preparedness to revamp the industry.
However, an internal memo sent to staff members indicated that normal operations would continue uninterrupted, with staff requested to continue with their normal duties.
Kenya was among the top destinations in Africa to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council Safe Travel Stamp, a good signal for the industry on the resumption of international travel.
President Uhuru Kenyatta had vowed to help the hospitality industry get back on its feet, with the government allocating Ksh500 million to the tourism industry as part of its measure to accelerate recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
