This archive report was first published on 14 May 2020.
Published on May 14, 2020, The Standard reported on the struggles of Kenya's restaurants amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
On a normal day, Salehe Safaris Hotel in Nairobi's Central Business District would accommodate up to 400 persons at its peak. However, due to the pandemic, the number has gone down to 150, with customers preferring to order take-away and sit at the table as they wait for their meals.
Even with the move to re-open restaurants, many Kenyans are keeping away, and others are opting for take-aways. The establishments have to reduce the sitting occupancy to adhere to the one-metre apart rule between customers and are not supposed to serve salads and buffets.
Some eateries, like Java Koinange, have stuck to take-away as they await a fairer working environment. However, even take-away is not thriving as before, with food delivery persons like Peter Maina, who works at CJ's restaurant in Nairobi's CBD, reporting a significant decrease in deliveries.
Meanwhile, some restaurants around the world are injecting in more cash with out-of-the-box innovations. Mediamatic vegan restaurant in Amsterdam has come up with green houses to make customers feel safe and protect others. The restaurant has set up a number of 'green houses' or bubbles where customers can sit, and be locked in as they enjoy their meal.
However, such a set-up may not work in the Kenyan context due to space constraints. In the guidelines issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, only four customers are allowed per 10 square metres. All food handlers are also required to be tested for Covid-19.
Restaurants and eateries are also required to be inspected afresh and issued with a special permit for three months. For Kenya, such an idea may be almost impossible, as Africa Healthcare Federation Chair Dr Amit Thakker noted in a zoom meeting with World Economic Forum.
Mediamatic co-founder Willem Velthoven said this venture was one of the most feasible ideas from a large list they had. “We only had tickets for June and the last week of May online and they are now all sold out,” he said.
Other establishments have come up with creative ways to attract customers while adhering to social distancing rules. In Sweden, the Bord for En restaurant has come up with a peculiar way to attract customers. In this establishment, every client sits on their own table, far from any contact with another person. The food is delivered through a pulley-like system, so no fear that the waiter might be the one to infect you with the virus, or the other way round.
