This archive report was first published on 1 August 2020.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread across Kenya, the government's latest move to ban the sale of alcohol in eateries and restaurants has left the country's entertainment industry on the brink of collapse.
President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the ban in a statement on Monday, effective at midnight, citing the need to curb the spread of the virus. The move has been met with widespread criticism from the industry, with many accusing the government of being heavy-handed.
The ban is set to affect thousands of jobs, with the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurant Association of Kenya (Perak) estimating that the industry will lose revenues of Sh50 billion. Perak chair, Alice Opee, warned that 500,000 Kenyans risked losing their jobs as a result of the ban.
Perak was responding to a draft regulation attributed to the Ministry of Health, which had proposed to ban the consumption of alcoholic drinks in areas where they were regularly and legally consumed. The proposal was met with opposition from the industry, with many arguing that it was an overreach of government power.
Despite the opposition, the government has stood firm on its decision, with President Kenyatta warning restaurant owners of dire consequences if they fail to comply with the ban. The move has been met with widespread criticism, with many accusing the government of being out of touch with the reality of the situation.
As the industry struggles to come to terms with the ban, many are left wondering what the future holds. Event organisers, deejays, and other industry professionals are facing financial ruin, with some even considering relocating to other parts of the country.
“Showbiz paid all my bills and with the restrictions being hard on the entertainment industry, gigs have been hard to come by, so I opted to move my family to a town that is within my means and cut on spending,” said deejay Crème De La Crème, who has relocated his family to his rural hometown of Kericho.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Kenyan entertainment industry is on the brink of collapse, and it will take a concerted effort from the government and the industry to prevent a complete disaster.
