Jalang'o To Push Parliament To Introduce Tougher Rules For Airbnb Owners

Jalang'o is pushing for the mandatory vetting of every Kenyan who owns an Airbnb.

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Jan 15, 2024 - 18:52
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Jalang'o To Push Parliament To Introduce Tougher Rules For Airbnb Owners
Lang'ata MP Phelix Odiwuor popularly known as Jalang'o during a past media address. /FILE

Lang'ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwuor popularly known as Jalang’o has expressed his intention to convince Parliament to enforce tougher measures targeting Airbnb owners after the short-term residential properties were linked to two femicide murders in the space of one week.

Speaking to bloggers on Monday, January 15, Jalang'o is pushing for the mandatory vetting of every Kenyan who owns an Airbnb.

While confessing that he owns several Airbnb properties, the lawmaker and entertainer expressed concern over the need for registration and regulation in the wake of recent tragic incidents such as the murder of Starlet Wahu and the macabre killing at TRM Drive in Roysambu, both in Nairobi.

He is therefore insisting that all Airbnbs should be registered, revealing cases of owners of the homestays who are offering their services without registration which poses a threat to their clients.

An Airbnb logo embedded on a photo of the inside of an Airbnb homestay. /LODGABLE.COM

"I have an Airbnb, I have so many that is one of my biggest businesses. So the one thing we can do is to make sure all Airbnbs are registered.

"Some people are running Airbnbs that are not registered and are not even under Airbnb, It is just someone who found a house in the company of his or her friends and we don't know who these people are," Jalang'o said.

The first-time lawmaker expressed his plan to table a motion in Parliament to regulate Airbnb operations in the country.

"We are taking that to Parliament. I will take it to Parliament, every single Airbnb must be registered and must know the owner. You can't get into Airbnb when we don't know who you are, that's it," he affirmed.

The proposed motion would mandate the registration of every Airbnb property, providing transparency about the property's ownership before guests can access the service.

Meanwhile, the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) announced that guests of hotels, accommodation and lodging establishments will now be required to surrender their identification documents for recording and withholding during the time of their stay.

“At the entry of any premises or property within the jurisdiction and care of a private security service provider, a security guard or a security officer, the private security service provider, security guard or officer shall require a person to identify themselves, register the time of entrance and exit of the person and retain temporarily the identification document of such person,” stated the authority in part.

Further, the security personnel shall be required to record the identification details of all individuals accessing such premises in a register, documenting the time of entry and exit for each person.

A log of all vehicles, rickshaws, and motorcycles entering and departing from the facilities shall be maintained, while the security personnel shall be required to ensure the CCTV and security cameras are in proper working condition and recording of footage is up-to-date.

“Maintain an updated Access Control Policy; a copy of which should be strategically displayed at the point of entry and exit at the guarded premises; and maintain a security occurrence book to record daily significant incidents and notable events relating to the safety of residents and guests within the premises,” the statement added.

The identification documents surrendered at the point of entry shall be returned to the person at the point of exit and not be used for any other purpose save for identification, according to the regulator.

“A private security service provider who violates Section 48 of the Act, uses the identification documents/details surrendered by individuals at the entry of any premises or property for any other purpose save for identification, and/or wilfully fails to comply with this directive, commits an offence and shall in addition to the cancellation of license, be liable on conviction to the penalty prescribed under the aforementioned Act or any other written law whichever is higher,” PSRA warned.

The TRM Drive murder on Sunday, January 14 saw the dismembered body of a 24-year-old unidentified woman discovered at an Airbnb residence, with the suspect still at large.

The murder of Starlet Wahu a week prior also took place at an Airbnb located in South B, Nairobi. However, the suspect, John Matara, was arrested and is currently in custody for 21 days amidst ongoing investigations.

TRM Drive along Thika Road where a woman was found murdered in an Airbnb on January 14, 2024. /VIRAL TEA KE

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