Kenya: Food vendors in Nyeri count losses as Catholic beatification fails to yield sales

Daniel Gitau prepares meat at Kikopey Delicacies during the beatification mass of Sister Irene Stefani at Dedan Kimathi University grounds in Nyeri County most vendors recorded poor sales during the ceremony. [PHOTO: MOSE SAMMY/STANDARD]

NYERI: They came, they saw and they went away, but it appears they did not eat.

As a result of this, traders, especially food vendors, are counting losses after the much-publicised beatification failed to yield fruits for their ventures.

Sunday, traders expressed their disappointment, with some revealing they were forced to throw away food or sell it at throwaway prices as there were no customers.

Most of the food vendors had pitched tent outside the main celebration centre at Dedan Kimathi University but by nightfall their food containers were still full to the brim.

A majority of traders who talked to The Standard expressed frustration after selling below their expectations.

Others claimed they were left with stocks worth thousands of shillings, which they failed to sell at the eagerly-awaited event.

Priscilla Wanjiku, a trader in Nyeri, said she was counting huge losses.

"Most of us are wondering what to do with the stocks since we did not sell. We had anticipated to do booming business and expected a huge turnout that would consume most of what we had brought from as far as Nairobi," she said.

Wanjiku claimed most of the people stayed away from the event after they were told by county government officials that most hotels were full and there were only 950 parking lots in Nyeri town.

"It is like the majority feared being caught in the confusion for lack of accommodation and where to park their vehicles and decided to stay at home and watch the event on TV," she added.

She said she had shopped for merchandise worth more than Sh250,000 from Nairobi, expecting to make a killing, but by the end of the day she had only managed to make a total sale of Sh1,400.

Jennica Wangui, who had also travelled from Nairobi, was left wondering what to do with Sh100,000 worth of stock after managing to sell only five cakes and a few litres of milk.

"I had borrowed Sh100,000 from a friend to put up a food stall expecting to reap a fortune from the event," mourned Ms Wangui.

She said by 6.30p.m., she had sold five cakes, yet she had spent more than Sh40,000 on the whole consignment.

"My day's sales amounted to less than Sh1,000. I think the whole issue of turnout was blown out of proportion. I am wondering how I will repay the loan," Wangui said.

The two expressed concern that the county government was charging between Sh500 and Sh5,000 for a business license, yet what they made from sales was disappointing.

"The county government benefited by collecting revenue at the expense of traders. Most of us failed to make any profits," Wangui added.

"For business premises measuring 20x20 at Kimathi University, the venue of the beatification, one had to part with Sh4,500, yet I made less than Sh1,000," Wangui complained.

She noted that most traders had incurred huge losses and were uncertain on what to do to recover their losses.

Samuel Maina, a photographer, said besides positioning themselves in strategic places within and around the venue of the event, business was below what they had targeted.

A spot check at several supermarkets like Uchumi in Karatina also revealed a similar trend, with most traders reeling under the weight of huge unsold stocks.