The county government of Kisumu has ordered immediate closure of all Airbnbs in the county over rising crime rates.

In the announcement made on Tuesday, October 8, Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo said the establishments will face a 30-day closure to give property owners time to heighten security measures.

Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga announced new regulations the county has put in place to ensure security of Airbnbs guest.

Abala further announced that operational licenses for the short term rentals will be issued afresh upon compliance.

According to him, operators will get licenses only if their apartments are located in a secure neighbourhood, have a visitors’ registration desk, security guards and Close Circuit Television cameras (CCTVs).

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He further directed all hotels, bars, restaurants and business premises to install CCTV cameras with a range of 50-100 metres to ensure surveillance.

This is the second time in a year Kisumy has targeted these units. In January, the county directed the establishments to register with local authorities and obtain a one-year licence.

The decision follows a series of crimes linked to short-term apartments, including incidents where young girls were reportedly lured into the apartments and engaged in appropriate activities including murder with most of the cases reported in Nairobi.

To address this, the government announced stringet regulations including a mandatory registration of all the establishments with the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA).

In addition, all operators must provide proper documentation, including lease agreements that clearly outline their short-term rental arrangements.

The government further directs that units must be inspected for safety before they can be approved to operate.