The national government has issued a directive mandating Airbnb and other short-term accommodation operators to register their properties with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) to ensure compliance with strict safety and security standards.
The announcement came through a joint statement released on Tuesday by Interior Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Raymond Omollo and his colleagues, Anne Wang’ombe (Gender and Affirmative Action), Dr. Beatrice Inyangala (Higher Education and Research), and John Ololtuaa (Tourism).
In the statement, the PSs emphasized that this measure is part of a broader effort to address the recent increase in femicide cases within these properties.
“Effective immediately, all operators of short-term accommodation rentals, including Airbnbs, are required to register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA),” the statement reads.
According to the statement, the registration process aims to ensure that all accommodations maintain the highest standards of safety and security for guests.
The PSs further declared that starting February 5, 2024, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs) will collaborate with TRA to enforce the directive, conducting inspections to ensure compliance.
Strict penalties, including fines and revocation, will be imposed on operators and properties found in violation of the set regulations.
“Starting from 5th February, 2024, National Government Administrative Officers (NGAOs), in collaboration with the TRA, will commence stringent inspections of all registered properties. We will subsequently coordinate with booking platforms to restrict unregistered rentals and further institute severe penalties, including fines and revocation in cases of non-compliance,” the statement added.
The PSs encouraged Resident Associations to collaborate with law enforcement agencies for effective enforcement, suggesting activities such as sharing information, joint inspections, and coordinated responses to safety standard violations.
Additionally, the Principal Secretaries announced that security guards at these properties are now legally required to temporarily retain the identification documents and record identification details of everyone entering the premises, including entry and exit times.
They highlighted the necessity of installing CCTV surveillance systems, ensuring that the recording of footage remains consistently up-to-date.
