Traders in Kibera slums have welcomed the government's directive to ban the anti-IEBC demos stating that the move will allow their small businesses to pick up after weeks of uncertainty.
The small and medium size entrepreneurs from Olympic and Makina shopping centres lamented that they have been forced to shut their businesses every Monday for fear of being attacked by the rioting youths.
"For the past one month, my shop has remained closed on Mondays. I consoled myself that nothing would happen on the first day the opposition called for demonstrations but I was wrong. Rowdy youth came to my shop and ordered me to close it or else they would rough me up, they even took some of my goods near the door,’' lamented Ms Nasimiyu, a shop owner in Olympic market.
For some unlucky business people, especially those operating in wooden stalls, dusting up and moving on with life has been a challenge. Their stalls were vandalised by the demonstrating youths who were out to get crude weapons to tackle the anti-riot officers summoned to the area.
‘'My wooden stall is nowhere. It was here (pointing at the site) but I will just look for means to construct another one,’' said Njoki, a vegetable vendor in Makina.
The residents are optimistic that the directive will prevent further demonstrations and give them time to develop their businesses.