City business owner publishes an open letter to President Ruto in newspaper

He says 40, 000 Kenyans are employed by restaurants and were at risk of facing redundancy if they are not allowed to operate.

"Your Excellency, help me safeguard the jobs of over 100 hustlers working at our restaurant. Over 40, 000 other hustlers are facing redundancy this new month from other sister restaurants,"

The author, who only identified himself as a 'hustler' says he took a loan with the mother's title deed to start up the business, which is about three years old.

"I started operations in 2020, unfortunately, we closed down after two weeks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and curfew measures that were put in place by the government,"

He adds that his business has employed 108 people, 90 per cent of who work on night shifts because that is when most of their clients dine.

Normally his business peak hours are between 7 pm and midnight on weekdays and 7 pm and 2 am on weekends.

However, with the ban, the hotel owner says he has to close by 10 pm. This means the last client to order must do so by 8:30 for them to eat and leave the premises by 9:30.

He has decried running into losses at a time when he has a loan to settle and a business to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic effects.