This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
As the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan draws to a close, businesses in Mombasa and Nairobi are reeling from the economic impact of the government's COVID-19 lockdown measures. With just five days remaining until Idd-ul-Fitr celebrations, shopping centers and markets are usually bustling with activity, but this year they are eerily quiet.
Shops in Nairobi's Eastleigh, Marikiti in Mombasa, and the livestock market in Garissa have been shut down, leaving traders like Ms. Mariam Ali facing huge losses. 'During the same period last year, my shop was fully stocked as customers kept coming. They have been told to stay away from Eastleigh, and I'm not sure if this time there will be a celebration,' she said.
Ms. Ali, who made around Sh20,000 daily during last year's Idd celebrations, is now struggling to make ends meet. 'It is weird. These markets and shops are our only sources of income. The government should allow us to go about with our businesses as we follow the health guidelines,' she said.
Traders in Mombasa Old Town, a traditional business hub, are also feeling the pinch. Women would normally buy carpets, buibui, dresses, and household items, while men would purchase kanzus. However, with the lockdown in place, the area is now a ghost town.
Some traders have moved their businesses to Bondeni, just opposite Mackinon market, while others have shifted to Kizingo. Mr. Salim Bajber, a kanzu trader, has opened a small shop for walk-in customers, but admits that the Old Town lockdown has contributed to a collapse of many businesses.
On May 21, 2020, the devolved government of Garissa ordered the closure of the Dagahley livestock market in Dadaab, Garissa County, after Wajir reported cases of the virus. The market serves traders in northeastern Kenya and Somalia, and the closure has had a significant impact on the local economy.
