Businesses blossomed at Kisii town during the graduation ceremony of students from St. Ann College and Kisii University on Thursday and Friday respectively.
Small trade owners, photographers and motorbike riders were the major beneficiaries, though many residents complained of exorbitant charges by the ‘Bodaboda’ operators due to the high demand of their targeted passengers.
“It has been our day and we are grateful to the organisers of such kind of functions. Normally we charge 30Sh from main campus to town, but today it was Sh100,” said Boniface Mochama a veteran ‘Bodaboda’ operator.
Photographers seized the opportunity and charged between Sh50 and Sh100 per photo, which normally goes for only Sh20.
“We are not exorbitant as some are claiming. Whenever we go to these functions, the institution charges us a small levy for us to erect trading shades that why we hike the prices a little bit,” claimed John Maarifa, a photographer from the town.
However, most customers complained of hiked prices accusing traders of being opportunists during such occasions and asked them to stop exaggerating prices.
“Am totally disappointed with these traders who hike prices whenever they come to such functions. 300ml bottle of soda normally costs just Sh25S and today they sell it at Sh50,” said Naomi Maosa, a Kisii University graduate, adding that the act was absolutely ridiculous and extortion of innocent publics.