Bars in Kenya will have to close at 7 p.m., while restaurants can continue to operate until 9 p.m., provided they only serve drinks to dinner guests.
These are the rules following President Kenyatta's decree of 1 May and this is the interpretation that must be given.
In a nutshell, from what has transpired from the words of the Kenyan coast's institutional leaders, probably after asking for clarifications in Nairobi, the reopening of bars and pubs until 7 pm does not mean that every other establishment that was previously (with the exception of Nairobi and the other four counties that were temporarily closed) could serve food and drink combined with that specific service to the customer, for another two hours, has been aligned.
The trade associations of the coast, and in particular the Kenya Association Hotel Keepers and Caterers and some Italian restaurateurs of Kilifi and Mombasa counties, after the controls of Monday, May 3, which also led to arrests and fines, have asked since last Tuesday to local institutions to produce an official statement, but yesterday they were satisfied with the firm words with which representatives of their leaders, from Governor Amason Kingi to the County Commissioner of Kilifi, reassured the operators.
According to these, it is confirmed that restaurants can continue their activities until 9 p.m. (a time previously set to give employees one hour to reach their homes before the curfew begins at 10 p.m.), but if they usually also offer bar service, the latter must be stopped two hours earlier.