Acting Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth has warned those seeking hospitality jobs to get vaccinated against Covid-19 or risk not being employed.
During a media briefing on health and Covid-19 response held at a Nairobi Hotel on September 9, Amoth explained the importance of the jab for the hospitality industry, casually insinuating that everyone in the industry must be vaccinated.
“Looking at the prevailing situation where you may not access certain services if you haven’t been vaccinated against Covid-19, Kenyans have no option but to get immunised,” Amoth said.
Amoth singled out the hospitality industry as an example, asserting that it is a key stakeholder in the fight against the disease.
“A receptionist or an attendant in a hotel or food enterprise should not be allowed to attend to you if he/she is not fully vaccinated,” Amoth said.
According to Amoth, this should also apply to any job seekers in the hospitality industry.
The order comes as parliament is due to consider a motion to bar unvaccinated people or those without negative Covid-19 certificates from certain public and private spaces.
A fortnight ago, Health CS Mutahi Kagwe issued a stern warning to all citizens seeking to access the Ministry of Health premises. He said nobody will be allowed into the premises if not vaccinated.
The sentiments by the Ministry of Health comes a month after Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua in a memo to government ministries gave notice to Kenyan civil servants over the same.
Prior to Kinyua’s directives, the Teachers Service Commission had also expressed dismay by the low uptake of the vaccine by teachers.
This led to TSC giving a seven-day ultimatum to get the jab or risk facing disciplinary action.