This archive report was first published on 25 May 2020.
Published on May 25, 2020, a vibrant car boot sale has emerged along the Northern bypass in Nairobi, where fresh food and vegetables are the most sought-after commodities.
Many of those participating in the boot sales have been laid off recently, with some turning to the unconventional income source to survive.
David Kimani, a 32-year-old IT consultant, was among those selling farm produce out of his German machine. He had been rendered jobless after international flights were stopped to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.
"My price is slightly lower than theirs," said Kimani, revealing that he was selling one kilo of onions for Sh130. The IT consultant had teamed up with his cousin to source the onions from Nyeri, while he sold them along the bypass.
Kimani's predicament is not unique, with thousands of Kenyans losing their regular sources of income due to the pandemic. Determined to scrape a living, many have turned to car boot sales, with some selling eggs, fish, and seafood to survive.
Valentine Majanga, a mother of one who works in the hospitality industry, was among those selling fish and seafood to survive. She and her husband, who also lost his hotel job, used their savings to set up the business at Muthiga - a small busy town along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
"My husband and I were affected by this pandemic. None of us currently has a salary and we need to earn a living," said Majanga.
