Small businesses hopeful as virus wanes

Joseph Mundia who runs a construction material store in Kitengela has been following coronavirus updates every day since the disease was first reported in the country in March.

His goal has been to keep track of the cases knowing the success of his business hinged on the trend the disease takes. 

The Covid-19 pandemic cases have been on an upward trend since March to hit 34,493 yesterday, but for the last two weeks, the number of confirmed infections has been plummeting.

The low cases have shone a ray of hope across Kenya, with small business owners like Mundia noting that the declining infections point to better business prospects in coming months.

“The sales have been low and getting some of the imported goods has been equally difficult due to restrictions placed by countries but things are looking better as our cases rise and fall,” he said.

Various sectors

His sentiments are shared by thousands of other traders in various sectors across the east African nation, from food vendors to car dealers, school owners, bar owners, secondhand items sellers and shopkeepers, all who are hopeful that as the Covid-19 cases take the downward trend.

Joseph Kung’u, the proprietor of Roka Preparatory School in Kirinyaga, who converted the institution into a farm to survive Covid-19 effects, said he was hopeful that his business would rise again once the spread of the disease is contained.

Grace Mutuku, who runs a grocery shop on the east of Nairobi, said the decline in cases for her means good business since economic activities would fully resume. 

“If business resumes fully, that means people would be able to engage normally in various economic activities as it was before the pandemic,” she said, noting her sales were barely Sh1,500 ($13.8) daily.

Imported textiles

Kenya on August 17 lifted a ban on the importation of secondhand clothes and other items, which brightened prospects for thousands of families that rely on the trade.

The imports had been suspended as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 through imported textiles and shoes, among other items. -Xinhua