Business resumes in Nyanza counties

Most of business operations resumed in Kisumu, Migori, Siaya and Homa Bay counties in Western Kenya Saturday following the announcement by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that voting had been postponed to a later date.

The region, which is an opposition stronghold, has been marred by chaos and tension since the disputed presidential election was held on October 26.

The two-day protest has seen at least three people succumb to gunshot injuries and several others injured.

Local residents had earlier warned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and its officials of dire consequences if it set up the voting materials in the region.

A spot check by Xinhua showed that business activities resumed Saturday morning in Kisumu county.

A number of supermarkets, open air markets, hotels, bus terminals and small shops were generally open and boda boda operators are back in business.

At the main bus terminal in Kisumu, residents flocked travel back to areas of work. Despite hiked fares, travelers were happy to get a means of transport to Nairobi and to other various parts of the East African nation. For two days, the roads had been barricaded by angry protesters.

ALSO SEE: KTN journalists brutalised by police in Migori

Barnabas Ogutu, 35, a second hand clothes dealer, said a number of traders had incurred heavy losses following the protests.

Ogutu said some traders had their shops vandalised and goods stolen during the protests.

In Homa Bay County, normalcy has resumed amid concerns that it would take time for residents to be back on their feet. Majority of the residents depend on fishing as the main source of livelihood.

John Onyango said he was unable to go fishing for the past two days because of the protests.

Kisumu county Governor Peter Anyang Nyong’o on Friday declared five days of mourning in the lakeside city following the death of protesters. He condemned the use of live bullets by police on unarmed citizens.