Although Kenyans are more afraid of their health when it comes to Covid-19, to the majority of businesses, the virus already killed them with no hopes of resurrecting.
Here are some 10 businesses that made their untimely death when Covid-19 came knocking:
Bars and clubs
These were the first casualties. The faced directive that came from the government to stop the further spread of Coronavirus was to shut down bars and clubs.
Stats indicate that over 100,000 people lost their jobs as a result of the businesses being shut down. It is not known when the bars will be allowed to operate again.
READ: All Bars In Kenya Closed Until Further Notice
Hotels
90 percent of hotels in Kenya have shut down. Almost all hotels that serve tourists at the Kenyan coast, including the iconic PrideIn Hotel, shut down and sent their employees home.
The government, through the Ministry of Health, banned customers from buying and eating food by sitting in a hotel and only directed hotels to act as take-away food joints.
Airport taxi
Drivers and car owners who used to earn a living by ferrying passengers to and from major airports such as the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have had to ground their vehicles. There are no customers to ferry.
Airlines
Kenya Airways, for the first time in 40 years ground all its planes to stop the spread of Covid-19. Kenya’s low-cost airline Jambojet suspended all its operations within and without Kenya. Employees were sent home.
Mitumba
The government banned the importation of secondhand clothes, popularly known as “mitumba.” 90 percent of the secondhand clothes come from the United States of America (USA) where the death toll due to Covid-19 is above 20,000.
The government feared that the importation of the clothes will increase the chances of the spread of the deadly virus. Currently, traders are selling their old stock but there are no customers too.
Transport
Those operating long-distance bus services are in for a long wait and have no other business but to count losses. Currently, no buses or vehicles are leaving or entering the counties of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kwale, and Lamu.
Massage Parlour
Many massage parlors in Nairobi have opted to shut down due to massive losses arising from the reduction of customers.
Salons and Kinyozi
Most people who operate barbershops and salons are shutting down their businesses. Kenyans are increasingly becoming cautious of seeking their services with the fear of contracting Covid-19.
Laundromats
Most Kenyans are no longer taking their clothes to laundromats. The majority are opting to clean them at their homes.
Hawking
Currently, Nairobi looks like a ghost city. The streets are empty. Walking down the streets brings back memories of the 1960s when the beauty of the city was at its peak. Currently, all hawkers have disappeared. No business.
READ: Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay, GoK To Kenyans In Private Quarantine Facilities