Bars, markets to remain shut on Election Day
Bars, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and markets in Kisumu will be closed on Tuesday next week to allow participation in the August 9 elections.
Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga made the announcement yesterday and declared that it will not be business as usual on election day.
“We have issued a circular notice to all the business elites and traders that on Tuesday the enterprises will not open from 6 am to 6 pm in the evening,’’ declared Abala.
Abala however, termed it a normal routine during each general elections cycle across the globe and Kisumu or Kenya was no exception to the trends and asked wananchi to humbly comply just for a day.
Abala told the press in Kisumu that the new move is to allow people to move freely to go and vote and to assist in terms of mobilization of voters without much disruptions or voter apathy. Already, he has issued a circular, to all supermarkets to follow suit, asking residents to shop on August 7 or early on August 8 before they are closed.
Meanwhile, bar operators in Nyandarua were yesterday urged to close their business on Election Day to give their patrons ample time to go and cast their votes.
The appeal was made by the County Commissioner (CC) Amos Mariba in his Ol Kalou town office after meeting top security officers to review security preparedness during and after the elections. “I urge bar owners in the County to close their business early on the eve of the election and remain closed on the voting day,” he said.
