Hospitality Associations Sign Agreement

By Godfrey Tung'wet Posted 18 July 2006 @ 09:19 pm EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

MOMBASA (IBTimes.com) - The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (Kahc) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pubs and Restaurants Association of Kenya (Perak).

Kahc national chairman, Ms Lucy Karume, said the agreement was aimed at ensuring continued development and expansion of co-operation between the two associations.

‘The Pubs and Restaurants Association has been operating on its own, but with this new agreement, we hope to have bigger bargaining role,’’ she said.

The associations will jointly promote the hospitality industry and strengthen control of underage people from patronising bars and entertainment joints. The arrangement is not a merger of the two associations.

"It is a merger of the objectives and we shall remain autonomous of Kahc,’’ Perak vice-chairman, Mr Maina Muchami, said.

During the signing ceremony in Mombasa, Perak was represented by its national chairman, Mr Walter Reif, who is managing director of Tembo Investment Limited.

Kahc was represented by Karume and Coast branch executive officer, Ms Saada Khamisi. Karume said her association would offer Perak a seat in the Kahc board of directors as well as membership to various committees.

‘’Interests of Perak will also be covered during negotiations with the Government,’’ she said.

Reif said Perak was working with a lobby group —Teens Watch — in Mombasa to stamp out alcohol consumption and drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Kahc has welcomed the composition of the newly constituted Hotels and Restaurant Authority (HRA) . HRA is charged with licensing and regulating hotels, restaurants and lodges .

President Kibaki gazzetted the appointment of a new chairman, Philip Ndolo, who took over from Zul Harunani.