MARSABIT – Traders in Marsabit town have raised concerns over the decline in business, saying a drop in the number of customers has negatively affected their income despite a reduction in the prices of some essential commodities.
Jackline Imbaya, a vegetable vendor in Marsabit town, said her business had been struggling for nearly a month due to the declining number of customers.
“For almost a month now, business has not been good. My daily sales have dropped significantly compared to before. Even though the prices of vegetables such as tomatoes and onions have gone down, we are still struggling to find customers,” said Imbaya.
She attributed the situation to the rising cost of living and the difficult economic environment, which she said had reduced residents’ purchasing power.
“People are struggling with the high cost of living, so they have reduced their spending. This has directly affected small businesses like mine,” she said.
Lilian Geoffrey, a hairdresser in Marsabit town, said the situation was equally difficult in the beauty industry, with the number of customers visiting her salon declining sharply.
“Business has become very difficult. I can go for an entire week and only get two or three customers. It is becoming hard to meet even some of my daily needs,” said Geoffrey.
Geoffrey said she had expected the ongoing wedding season to bring more customers to her salon but that had not happened.
“There are many weddings taking place this season, but unfortunately, that has not translated into more customers for my salon. The business is still very slow,” she said.
However, not all traders are experiencing a downturn.
Jane Kinya, a tailor in Marsabit town, said her experience had been different, noting that her business had been performing well and she had continued to make profits.
“For me, business has been doing well. I have been getting customers and making profits, unlike some other traders who are experiencing a decline in business,” said Kinya.
Similarly, Jane Wanyieki, a nail technician, said her business had improved, largely due to the ongoing wedding celebrations in Marsabit.
“The wedding season has been good for my business because we are getting more customers who need beauty services. I can say that business has improved,” said Wanyieki.
Wanyieki urged traders whose businesses were struggling not to give up, but to remain patient and explore new ways of attracting customers.
“Traders should not lose hope. We need to be patient, understand our customers and come up with different ways of attracting and retaining them. The situation can still improve,” she said.
