Uneasy calm as Nairobi shakes off election blues

Nairobi Business District has today witnessed slow pace of business as normalcy in the city returns in the aftermath of August 8^th poll.

 A spot check shows most of the businesses from banking, transport, hotels, boutiques, and electronic shops among others have been opened. A significant number of shops, however, remained closed.

Security remains tight as police officers armed in full gear patrol the city that appears to be a bit deserted compared to the tension free environment on the normal days.

Henry Kimeu who operates bodaboda in the city is concerned with the low numbers of people who have turned up for the work and business. “The business is not doing well today. It’s 10am and I have not gotten any customer and this is worrying,” Kimeu told KNA.

Others like Patrick Gitau, a restaurant owner, are hopeful that business would improve as the week progressed.  “We should just see the way Tuesday plays out and how National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga’s  address will be reacted upon, but I hope people will get back to work as normal,” said Gitau.

NEXT: How to move on after elections

Esther Maina is a hair dresser and she is counting the losses her business has incurred over the last week. “We could not open this salon because of tension, and you can guess the impact it has had on us. We didn’t make any cash and this is frustrating,” she said.

Stakes remain high after opposition leader Raila Odinga refused to concede defeat in the just concluded general elections in which he was beaten by Uhuru Kenyatta who garnered 8 million votes against Odinga’s 6.7 million.

 Raila is expected to address the nation tomorrow and, according to many people, his address is anticipated to be a game changer in the political tensions the country is experiencing. Many business people were, however, hopeful that there would be peace after his address.