A Christmas of deserted streets, slashed business

The normally-bustling city of Nairobi yesterday fell unusually quiet as Kenyans took a break to celebrate Christmas.

During the morning hours, only a few people dotted the city streets, some adorning red Father Christmas caps to keep the festive spirit alive. Few businesses were open while the parking areas, usually congested on normal days, remained vacated. Decorated Christmas trees beaming with flashy colourful lights shone brightly at the entrances of supermarkets as Christmas carols jiggled in low tones.

There were lower-than-anticipated activities, especially in the shops, pointing to a decline in shopping during the festive season prompted by harsh economic times. A spot-check at major upcountry bus stops revealed reduced travel to the rural areas.

At the Tea Room matatu stage, a handful of passengers were waiting for vehicles to travel to different part across Central Kenya.

The fares were still high with passengers travelling to Karatina paying Sh900 compared to the normal Sh350.

At Nyamakima, popular Nairobi mini buses were contracted to ferry passengers to Nakuru as there were no Nissan matatus.

A manager at the terminus explained that most of their matatus were avoiding returning to Nairobi following days of massive traffic jams along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway in the past week.

“Today we are using these buses to carry our passengers because our matatus have opted to operate on other routes where there is a low likelihood of traffic. We are charging Sh1400 to Nakuru because the vehicles will return to Nairobi empty,” he said.

On Christmas day, he added, most of the vehicles moved to shorter routes that are equally profitable and allow them to make more trips.

A similar scenario was replicated in Machakos Country Bus. Contrary to three days ago when travellers flocked the bus stop, on Christmas day there were just a few buses packed in an almost empty station.

A bus conductor, John Mutie said that the majority of the buses left early morning carrying last-minute passengers travelling to Western Kenya.

“At least 10 buses left before 8am. The ones that are here arrived later, some needed minor service and changing of tyres before they can start their journey. Most of them may leave later in the day with the few passengers and the luggage,” Mutie said.

By midday, the city centre came back to life as more people started streaming towards Uhuru Park through Harambee and Kenyatta Avenue.

It was a day of booming business for street photographers stationed along the route.

“I normally charge Sh200 for a maximum of three poses but most of my clients have been bargaining. Since today is the climax of the festive season, I am flexible with the charges to ensure I take as many photos as possible,” Brian Anderson, a street photographer stationed along Aga Khan Walk told us.

Anderson explained that business would have been more profitable if clients were requesting for printed photographs, but majority of them preferred to have soft copies sent to their phones.

Suppressed business
The climax of the Christmas celebrations for city residents who chose not to travel was at Uhuru Park. Hundreds of Kenyans who thronged the park transformed it into a family funfair, a vibrant hub of celebration as young parents paid for any available ride or game.

Peter Odhiambo, who was with his wife and three children, stated that he was forced to stay in Nairobi as opposed to previous years when to his Bondo village due to financial constraints.

“Travelling for now is a luxury, it is not in budget even. It is painful to break that tradition but we have no other option,” Odhiambo said.

Despite the multitude of merrymakers in Uhuru Park, traders and service providers complained that people didn’t spend money on their businesses as they had expected.

Jane Mwende, who was selling children’s merchandise and face painting, said that she was selling her commodities at a small profit so that she would not remain with dead stock at the end of the day. “You have seen how we are struggling even to convince parents to have their children get a face painting. If I overprice my items, nobody will buy them,” Mwende explained.

Similarly, Moses Ochomo, who was offering a ride-on-car for children complained that business was hectic.

“I still wonder why the county government has not opened Central Park. Us who are offering riding services have nowhere to manoeuvre around and it will affect the amount of money we make,” Ochomo complained, adding that had Central Park been open, it would have accommodated some of the people and the children riding on the small cars, horses and camels.

Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka wished Kenyans a merry Christmas through a short video posted on his social media.

“Although our livestock are in danger of being vaccinated by the government, let us eat the meat before they are injected. Let us all celebrate with our families and friends. This is our country and let us remain focused,” the former Vice President joked about the impending government vaccination programme, an exercise he has vehemently opposed.