Hotel owners in Kakamega have increased their food stock and bought new linen in readiness for the annual devolution conference, which will take place in the town.
However, they are complaining that though the event is just a week away, most hotels and guest houses have not received any bookings from guests headed for the event, which is expected to earn the town about Ksh 200 million.
Only one guest house has received 50% booking while another says Makueni county government has shown interest in booking its delegation there. There are fears that most delegations will lodge in Kisumu, Eldoret, Mumias and Kitale, which have more established facilities.
Andrew Gunyama, a spokesman, says that all hotels have placed orders for food from suppliers and bought more beddings in preparation for the conference.
According to the Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, the budget for participants’ food in the town is Ksh 90 million.
Other stakeholders, including event organisers envisage more money being spent by other participants on food at various joints during the week-long conference, which kicks off next Tuesday. This is according to Phanuel Ojwaya, a public relations officer in the Devolution ministry, who conducted a two-day survey in the town.
But proprietors and managers have put their best foot forward as the hotels are spick-and-span.
As part of the preparations to receive the high profile guests including NASA leader Raila Odinga, Cabinet and Principal Secretaries and Governors, Kenya Utalii College offered in-service training for hotel staff. The establishments have also hired more workers.
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Lurambi MP Titus Khamala wants local residents sensitised on the upcoming conference so that they associate themselves with it.
County Commissioner Abdulrizak Jaldessa has reassured that security had been beefed up while the Public Service County Executive Member Dr Beatrice Saban says that health facilities led by Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu have been well supplied and several ambulances will be on standby in case of an emergency.
– Additional reporting by BT Correspondent.
