Traders welcome Azimio move on weekly protests

Traders from Nyanza region have lauded the move by the opposition to call off bi-weekly anti-government demonstrations, saying it would help economic growth. 

Speaking to journalists, the traders said the economy was hurting and many businesses risked going under, if the demos persisted, without a truce.

“Many of us were uncertain of what would happen to us if the protest continued, debt servicing plans looked bleak,’’ a trader John Omollo told Business Hub.

He said some of the traders were servicing varied loans, ranging from Sh30,000 to Sh60,000 a month. Similar sentiments were expressed by other traders who described the effects of the demonstrations as huge.

The traders spoke as Kenya National Chamber of Commerce Nyanza branch chair Israel Agina called for support of those affected. “We want banks to extend the loans repayment periods due to the demonstrations effect,’’ he said.

Agina also wants the State to come up with an economic stimulus package to support the traders whose businesses were either looted or vandalised.

He said Kenya must be inclusive and any move to encourage dialogue is good, adding: “The State has a social contract to safeguard life and property, if this was not done, it’s our humble appeal they find ways to help those affected.”

Monthly targets

A transporter, John Odhiambo, who owns a truck in Kisumu, claimed that he is servicing a Sh60,000 loan a month.

“Our target is daily return, which we rely on when the tracks are hired. It means if we don’t work, the monthly targets will be reduced,’’ he said.

Ken Onyango, a hotelier, claimed on Mondays, he used to make between Sh3,000 to Sh5,000 profit. But the demos meant that on Mondays they close. Similarly, he decried the effect on Thursday, saying it meant losing another Sh2,500 to Sh3,500. In Kisumu, Mary Otieno, who runs a cereal business, claimed she had to close for two days, losing up to Sh10,000. She claimed most of her customers are hoteliers and so when they close, the effect is enormous.

“It is our hope that the government and the opposition would find lasting solutions,” she said. But boda boda operators had mixed signals with some claiming they made brisk business while others said they lack of passengers during the demos as many shied from traveling.

James Owiti, a rider in Kisumu, claimed that most people resorted to boda boda to run their errands, saying with the roads blocked, boda bodas came in handy as the only alternative means to shuttle in the villages and local towns. 

“It is most of us who were on the streets, and so we also took advantage to mint money,’’ he said. Kings Owino, however, claimed that they lost business due to limited travels. “Most people stayed away and so we lost businesses both on Mondays and Thursdays,’’ he said. 

On a good day, he said he would make about Sh700 to Sh1,000 after deducting the cost of fuel.

Most boda boda operators run on loans where each day, week or month they part with between Sh200, Sh600 and Sh1,000.

The traders expressed hope that President William Ruto and Opposition leaders led by Raila Odinga would find lasting solutions to the current stand off.

The concerns come at a time when the economy is undergoing tough times, with the country going for more loans abroad. 

Cost of living

Currently, most Kenyans are feeling the biting effect of high cost of living fuelled by the oil price hike in the global markets.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has also had a ripple effect on the local markets. Kenya relies on imports of oil, wheat, and rice from the international market, and most of the supplies come from the East. 

President Ruto has already promised that his administration is keen on embarking on agroprocessing to harness the industry’s by-products.

This is expected, to boost mass production and create more wealth and employment opportunities for thousands of Kenyans.