All operators of short-term accommodation rentals in the country, including Airbnb, will be required to register with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) starting Monday, according to a new government directive.
The move comes in the wake of recent murders at short-term rental properties, which authorities have deemed “disturbing”.
“Prioritizing and enforcing existing regulations is a critical step in addressing and mitigating these concerning occurrences,” read a statement by Principal Secretaries; Raymond Omollo (Internal Security and National Administration), Anne Wang’ombe (Gender and Affirmative Action), Beatrice Inyangala (Higher Education and Research) and John Ololtua (Tourism).
New security measures introduced by the Private Security Regulatory Authority require guards at short-term rentals to record the identification details of all guests and retain their documents during their stay. Installation of CCTV cameras is also now mandatory.
From Monday, National Government Administrative Officers will begin inspecting registered short-term rentals to ensure they comply with safety and security standards. The officials said it will coordinate with booking platforms to restrict rentals that do not register.
“We will subsequently institute severe penalties, including fines and revocation in cases of non-compliance,” the statement read.
The PSs urged residents to assist enforcement efforts by sharing information and reporting violations.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of individuals using these services,” they said.
The Director of Criminal Investigations has assembled a team to investigate femicide cases.
