Tourism Cabinet Secretary nominee Rebecca Miano has pledged to address deficiencies in the Airbnb sector if approved. During her vetting by the Committee on Appointments at Parliament on Saturday, Miano noted that Kenya’s Airbnb market lags behind other countries and regions.
“We are currently trailing in the Airbnb space, both as a country and a region,” Miano stated. “We need to address this gap and work proactively to resolve emerging issues.”
She committed to prioritizing the transformation of the Airbnb sector, promising to collaborate with various government bodies and ministries to develop and implement necessary strategies, regulations, and policies. Miano emphasized the importance of cleaning up the sector to address current security concerns and other challenges.
Miano described the rapid growth of the Airbnb industry as a factor that has outpaced its regulation. She is the third nominee to appear before the Committee for the day.
The urgency of this issue was underscored by recent tragic events. In early 2024, the Airbnb sector faced significant controversy, including two murder cases within the first two weeks of January. One incident involved a 24-year-old woman found murdered and stuffed in a paper bag along Thika Road, and another involved the brutal murder of socialite Starlet Wahu Mwangi in an Airbnb in South B, Nairobi, just eight days prior.
