The Samburu county government has banned operations of salons and barbershop in Samburu County for an unknown period of time.
Samburu County’s Committee executive member in charge of health Stephen Lekupe said that it is not possible for operators in salons and barbershop to guarantee social distance and maintain the required hygiene.
“We realised it is not possible for the operators in those businesses to guarantee social distance because kinyozi or salons requires close proximity between the client and the service provider, we also can’t guarantee that the kionyozi or salon operator can be able to wash their hands after serving every client,” he said.
Owners of salons and barber shops are complaining of county government’s decision to close down their businesses despite maintaining high level of hygiene as directed by government.
“We have children to feed, loans to service, houses rent to pay, and we need money. Yet the government is closing our businesses at this time. We are ready to stay in houses but we need government to give us an alternative,” Ms Jane Kinyua, a salon operator said.
A section of salons and barbershop operators within Maralal town were speaking to the press when they met in an attempt to convince government to lift the ban on their businesses.
Mr. James Maina, a barbershop operator in the town said the decision to close their shops was unfair since the Ministry of health on Wednesday allowed salons and barber shops to operate only if they wear protective gear and serve one customer at a time.
“The national government through the ministry of health gave us permission to operate as long as we protect ourselves and our customers and I urge the Samburu county government to reconsider their unfair stand,” Maina said.
Ms Margaret Wanjiru, a salonist asked government to lift ban on their businesses as they are already abiding by government’s directives including washing hands, wearing facemasks and using sanitisers.
She also called on the area MP Naisula Lesuuda to intervene and negotiate with the county government to lift the ban.
By Robert Githu
Samburu Businesses Shut for Flouting Covid 19 Protocol
