Kisumu businesses paralyzed as protestors demonstrate against Finance Bill 2024

Kisumu streets were deserted, and businesses came to a standstill as protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against Finance Bill 2024.

Most businesses that opened early in the morning quickly closed as youths began converging at Kondele Grounds.

A spot check by the Star revealed that shops, supermarkets, restaurants, and street hawkers all stayed away as protesters took over the streets.

In some areas, business owners were seen standing outside their premises as protestors passed by.

"There are people who take advantage of these protests to break into other people's businesses, that's why I'm standing out here with a flag," a businessman along the Oginga Odinga Streets said.

Even as the protest took a toll on businesses, other proprietors noted that if this was the only solution for everything to be okay in the country, the cost of living reduced and excessive taxes eliminated, then they had no problem.

"The young people must be listened and I hope going forward, people will not have to die, for a problem to be handled," a manager in one of the restaurant within the city said.

Transportation was also severely affected as most vehicles were kept off the roads due to the protests.

Protestors inspected vehicles they encountered along Oginga Odinga Street before permitting them to pass.