The business community at the Coast, through the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce Mombasa chapter, has called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to fully re-open the economy.
They have lamented the restrictions on movement of people, curfew and ban on gatherings have affected many businesses, especially the small scale traders who are now struggling to remain afloat.
Led by the KNCCI Mombasa chairperson Mustafa Ramadhan, they urged the government to consider rolling out mass vaccination to allow for the full reopening of the economy.
They said there is no reason for banning public gatherings, whereas schools, public transport and market places are allowed to operate fully.
“We have allowed our children, the most vulnerable, to go back to school, I see no reason why the economy cannot be fully reopened,” Ramadhan said.
He said currently, there is no stimulus package to cushion the business community against the negative impact of Covid-19 on the economy.
His sentiments were echoed by Mombasa Small Traders and Hawkers Association chairman Hamisi Dawa who decried that some of them are now sick.
The extension of the curfew and ban on public gatherings has only added pain to their agony.
“We are going through a hard time, some of us are on medication and cannot fend for their families making things even more difficult for them, please consider opening the economy Mr President,” Dawa said.
The creative industry said artists have lost jobs given that most events take place at night, but cannot happen due to the curfew and ban on gatherings.
Mvita legislature Abdulswamd Nassir reiterated his call for the full reopening of the economy saying other countries are moving on allowing people into stadiums to watch games. “Why not Kenya?” he posed.
Nassir said the Mombasa economy is driven by tourism and the logistic industries which both have been hard hit by the pandemic.
“It is impossible to ask tour operators and guides to work online or ask truck drivers to do so from home, time is ripe to open up the economy,” he said.
The MP urged the government to roll out mass vaccination saying the National Assembly had set aside close to Sh19 billion for the procurement of vaccines.
“It is possible to do a door-to-door mass vaccination of the public, we can make use of our KMTC students as manpower to assist in the exercise,” Nassir said.
He recently raised a petition in the National Assembly calling for the opening of the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach and Mama Ngina Watefront Park for traders, a move that saw the National Assembly Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Committee summon Mombasa County Government and the Ministry of Health to shed light on the matter.
“I am yet to receive the scientific rational as to why Old Town was locked down sometime last year and the reason behind the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed countrywide,” added Nassir.
-Edited by SKanyara
