Nairobi residents have challenged the incoming government to prioritise bringing down the cost of living.
They told the Star on Tuesday that they want the next government to lower the prices of food and fuel.
They said maize flour, which the President had subsidised to Sh100 for a 2kg packet for one month, is not available in some supermarkets and where it is found, the quality is wanting.
They say the subsidy was to take effect after Uhuru's announcement on July 20, but some supermarkets in Nairobi have been selling unga for between Sh180 and Sh230.
Boda boda rider James Gitau said he has been struggling to fend for his family due to the high cost of living.
“I have been earning the same amount of money but the cost of living is too high. When I go home in the evening, my family expects me to put food on the table,” Gitau said.
“Work demand is very low. The government subsidised the cost of flour but I have never seen the said subsidised flour… I have only seen it being talked about in the media.”
Kasyoka Mboya, a fruit vendor in Nairobi's Marikiti, said the economy is in bad shape and everything has become way too expensive.
“We were told that the government subsidised unga but till today, I have never bought one. Even the one that is retailing at Sh230 is no longer available in supermarkets,” he said.
Kasyoka said Nairobi traders have high expectations the incoming government will lower the high cost of living.
Esther Wairimu, a fruit vendor, said life has never been this expensive and unbearable.
“Taking my children to school has been a challenge because of school fees. If I take them back next week, they will be told to come back home because of unpaid school fees,” she said.
“My children have been in and out of school and this has affected how they are supposed to be attending classes.”
Many voters in Nairobi said Tuesday's voter turnout was low compared to 2017.
Trader John Muchoki said not many people turned up to vote as he expected.
“People are tired of where the country is heading to. I hope that once the results are announced, whoever wins will restore order in the country,” he said.
“Whoever will lose should concede and go home. We want peace in the country and we are hoping that IEBC will deliver credible results.”
A boda boda rider, who did not want to be named, said voter turnout was low as people stayed home or were busy looking for their next meal.
"Kenyans no longer have faith in the leaders they are electing. The cost of living pushed many to keep off voting," he said.
The rider said they should be allowed to operate from the CBD.
Boda boda operators within CBD have in the recent past been involved in cat and mouse games with the government.
Authorities have barred them from operating within the CBD, a move operators said is ill-informed.
Patrick Gitonga, a PSV operator plying the Meru route said they expect the new government to reduce fuel prices.
"The cost of fuel is so high, we are making losses," he said.
Gitonga said every penny they make goes to buying fuel.
In Nairobi, a litre of petrol is retailing at Sh159.12, diesel at Sh14o and kerosene Sh127.94.
Gitonga said the number of travellers has also drastically reduced.
Edited by A.N
“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”