Three tourist hotels in Baringo District have closed down, due to the post-election violence.

Following this the hotels, Spa Resort, Soi Bogoria, and Lake Baringo Lodge, have lost more than Sh9 million while about 140 employees have been sent home.

Baringo town clerk, Mr Joseph Keitany, said the hotels have been closed since January 8, because there were no bookings.

He said Baringo town council, which depends heavily on revenue from the tourism industry, will face a major funds crunch in discharging its services, if the election impasse continues.

Meanwhile, an athlete has said the recent violence has led to the cancellation of a trip of about 500 tourists, who were to visit the North Rift.

The current world champion of 3,000 metres, Mr Daniel Komen, said he had lined up a number of activities to promote the western region circuit but all this had been dashed. “As I am talking to you, two Germans, two Ukrainians and a Polish who were training in Eldoret have relocated to their countries after violence erupted in the country,” he said during an interview.

He said the athletes, who were to visit the region for training, had cancelled the exercise.