Kenyan capital Nairobi was a beehive of activities on Friday morning as workers reported to their stations and businesses opened after a two-day break as a result of the repeat presidential polls.
A survey by Xinhua revealed that major retail outlets, restaurants, market stalls and offices had resumed normal operations by Friday noon as results for repeat presidential elections started streaming in.
The post-poll mood in Nairobi was buoyant as Kenyans went back to their income-generating activities with the hope of recovering from losses incurred during the extended campaign season.
A waitress at a fast food joint located at a busy inter-section in Nairobi told Xinhua that customers started requesting orders for their favorite sandwiches from mid-morning.
“We have been serving a good number of customers since mid-morning and we are hoping that business will eventually pick up in the afternoon and evening rush hour,” said the waitress who requested anonymity.
Kenyans trooped to the polling stations on Thursday to participate in a fresh round of election as ordered by the Supreme Court, which nullified the ones held on Aug. 8 citing irregularities.
The voting exercise was nevertheless marred by low turnout, boycott and violent protests in the opposition strongholds of western Kenya and Nairobi’s Kibera slums.
At least six people have died in protest-hit western Kenyan counties following violent confrontation with anti-riot police.
At the same time, the chairman of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Thursday evening announced postponement of voting in Kisumu, Homa Bay, Siaya and Migori counties over rising insecurity.
The protests that marred repeat presidential polls in opposition strongholds sent jitters to local investors already grappling with huge losses incurred during months of heated campaigns.
Small and medium sized enterprises were in particular hit hard during the period preceding repeat presidential elections.
Kenya’s private sector lobby in a statement issued on the eve of repeat presidential polls noted that key sectors of the economy like transport, manufacturing, retail and financial services bore the brunt of poll jitters.
Traders who spoke to Xinhua on Friday were optimistic that businesses would pick up after conclusion of the voting exercise.
John Waweru, a middle-aged flower vendor, said he expected to do roaring business in the post-poll period after grappling with a prolonged slump.
“Small businesses were affected by protests and heated campaigns that were commonplace before the voting day. We were forced to close our stalls during the street protests and suffered huge losses in the process,” said Waweru.
His stall located in Nairobi’s city market attracted several clients who ordered banquets of flowers that are mainly used for decorating homes and offices.
Major retail outlets, coffee shops and clothing lines that dot Nairobi’s major streets were open for business on Friday morning though few customers were spotted trickling in.
At Jade Collections, a clothing line located in downtown Nairobi, attendants engaged customers who trooped there to sample the new outfit on offer.
The attendants who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity said there were indications business will resume by Friday afternoon.
“We expect clients to start trooping back later this afternoon and have received bulk orders from our retail customers within Nairobi and other upcountry towns,” said a male attendant.
Daniel Kamau, a newspaper vendor and shoe shiner said he hoped the economy would get a new shot in the arm after conclusion of repeat presidential polls.
“A two-day holiday set aside by the government to allow Kenyans to vote affected my business and am hoping the closure of that chapter will enable me recover from losses,” said Kamau.
He revealed that business was modest on Friday morning but hoped it would resume in full over the weekend. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
