Small scale businesses in Kisii County have thrived significantly in a few weeks’ time following opening of surrounding institutions after a long recess.
With student population increasing due to high number of intakes in learning institutions in Kisii town, business merchants are targeting students in areas surrounding those specific institutions.
According to Alice Ondere who owns an M-Pesa outlet near Kisii University College, she closed her business following closure of the institution towards late December last year, but has since re-opened after official opening of the institution a fortnight ago.
“These students are our key customers, and we depend so much on them for the prosperity of our businesses. Sometimes it becomes extremely difficult to operate without them hence,” said Ondere.
Mary Obara who sells vegetables near Gusii Institute main gate said she had encountered huge loses after the Institution closed for a recess, but has since recovered following the official reporting back of the students to the Institute.
“Sometimes I really feel bad when they go home. They make our businesses run hence they are important in our lives. Some of us are able to pay rent and school fees for our children from these businesses, therefore whenever they are on holiday, there is a way we do not really feel good,” said Obara.
However some students are criticised the small scale businesspeople around or within their Institutions blaming them of over-charging their goods, because of what they termed as monopoly those businesspeople have.
According to Seth Onsare, prizes of basic commodities such as vegetables and sugar have been hiked making it impossible for students to afford them at times, forcing them to go to the town centre to buy them at a relatively cheaper price.
“These are gamblers who make our lives difficult. They exaggerate prizes and make some of us go through hell especially towards the end of the semester,” said a student Gusii Institute.