Nairobi: Families forced to tighten the purse to survive four-day holiday

The four-day long holiday has left many parents and guardians in Nairobi grimacing and staring at empty wallets.

That every little expense came for their money these past four days – and right in the middle of the month.

“A number of primary and secondary schools closed on Thursday, October 16. Kids are suddenly at home. Some university students are also at home following lecturers' strike. Working parents and guardians too are at home,” says Agnes Ochungo, a mother of three, living in Embakasi.

She says that her two sons who are in the university are both at home, and are doing a good job eating anything and everything, and watching TV from dawn to dusk.

Their three younger siblings, who are in private primary schools in Nairobi, are at home as well, full time, having closed school on Thursday, October 16 -- after President Ruto declared Friday 17 a holiday in honour of the late Raila Odinga.

According to Agnes, her spending tripled in the last four days, forcing her to borrow money from a friend.

“There are eight people in my house at the moment, and some of these are relatives who attend nearby universities, but are currently out because of the lecturers’ riot,” says Agnes – adding that she has spent a lot especially on drinking water, cooking flour, sugar and electricity token.

It's the same feeling for Anthony Baraza, who operates an electric boda-boda hailing service here in Nairobi.

“These past four days have not been very good in terms of business, because people are not moving from one place to another; nobody is travelling to work or back, unless it’s an essential service. Many have spent this holiday sitting at home, following the recent happenings on television or on their mobile phones. I have had to park my motorbike at home because there is no business,” says Baraza, adding that he had to re-adjust at home to survive the four days, with no money coming in.

Jairo Otieno, a father of three, says his spending at home increased almost five-fold during this period.

“I had to ban hot shower baths in my house to try and preserve token, also factoring in the many hours the television is running given the recent events around the death of Raila Odinga, football and Mashujaa Day celebrations. 

It was, however, and different experience for estate shops, bars and restaurant operators as they registered increased numbers of customers since Thursday, October 16th, running to Monday, October 20th. Many people trooped to these entertainment joints to follow the events on giant screens, although many spent money frugally.

As Tuesday, October 21 approaches, when many will be going back to work, after four days of ‘good rest’, many say they are already barely surviving, with no money to sustain them to  the end of November.

And so, they are running to borrow money from friends, banks, shylocks, or take salary advance. Meanwhile, December is approaching, a month of fun and travel, then Njaanuary will pay humanity a lengthy visit.