Airbnb, the global online platform for short-term rentals, issued a statement on Monday denying any connection to the two violent crimes that occurred in Nairobi in recent weeks.
The company said it was “saddened and shocked” by the events and expressed its condolences to the victims’ families. It also said it had shared information with the local police to assist with the ongoing investigations.
“We can confirm that neither of these events were connected to stays on Airbnb,” the statement read. “The properties in which these crimes took place did not have reservations booked on Airbnb for the dates reported. We do not have accounts registered to the names of the accused.”
The statement came after some media reports suggested that the perpetrators of the crimes had used Airbnb to rent the properties where they committed the acts.
Airbnb said it had “zero tolerance” for illegal behavior on its platform and that it worked with law enforcement to remove bad actors. It also said it had strict rules and policies to ensure the safety and authenticity of its users.
“Airbnb is now a noun and a verb, and for many, a term used to describe an entire industry which is what we have seen in the reporting in Kenya over the past week,” the statement read. “As a business built on trust, safety issues on Airbnb are incredibly rare and we implement measures to maintain safety on the platform in Kenya.”
Some of the measures mentioned by the company include identity verification, secure payments, 24/7 safety support, and information on how to safely book a stay on Airbnb. The company also said it supported the introduction of an online register for all short-term rentals in Kenya, across every online platform and traditional operator.
“A central, national register ensures local authorities have the information they need to know who is renting out a property, and how often,” the statement read.
