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Hoteliers in Naivasha have renewed their calls to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) to consider reviewing the daily subsistence allowances rates for civil servants in the town, warning of a steep downward plunge of the industry.

Naivasha fell in the commission’s lower cluster under municipalities after Nakuru town was elevated to a city, making it more attractive to the civil service with high allowances (per-diems) compared to the ones in other municipalities.

Stakeholders revealed that bookings and conferencing in the lakeside town had alarmingly dropped, revealing that already government agencies and non-governmental organisations are opting for cities where per-diems are a bit high.

According to the chairperson of Naivasha Hoteliers Association Rahab Mwihaki, the shift in business posed a major threat to their businesses and workers.

Hospitality sector

Speaking at Lake Naivasha Resort, Mwihaki noted that the hospitality sector within Naivasha employed over 200,000 people directly and indirectly. 

“Business has relocated to Nakuru at the expense of Naivasha and this is a threat to the workers, suppliers, Naivasha residents and the hoteliers,” she said.  Mwihaki questioned the rationale used by SRC to downgrade the town’s status yet it was part of Nakuru County.  “This move has affected farmers who supply food to hotels and the workers yet Naivasha has capacity to hold more visitors than Naivasha,” she said.

Stephen Thuo, chairman of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (KNCCI) Nakuru County admitted that the review by SRC had affected many hoteliers and put tens of jobs under threat.

“Currently hotels in Nakuru are fully booked for conferences yet Naivasha which is closer to Nairobi and has the capacity has been ignored unfairly,” he said.

A hotelier, Mark Kariuki, said that the SRC directive had made Naivasha unattractive to those willing to hold workshops despite having the best workshop amenities in the country.

“We have petitioned parliament and SRC to relook into this directive as it has far reaching consequences to hoteliers, farmers and even small scale traders around Naivasha,” he said.

Earlier, Naivasha Mp Jane Kihara promised to raise the issue with Tourism Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza, adding that Naivasha had the potential of being a Resort City.

                                   – Roy Lumbe