Many businesses remained shut in Nairobi’s Central Business District on Monday as trader’s feared possible violence after the Saba Saba rally at Uhuru Park.
A number of traders opened for businesses in the morning but soon shut their premises as shoppers also stayed away.
There was minimal traffic in the Central Business District and many parking slots remained empty.
There were no ugly incidents reported in the city center by mid afternoon.
A group of demonstrators marched through the city center at 11am temporarily causing a scare among the few traders who had opened their shops.
They later joined another group that had already assembled at Uhuru Park, where Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula were expected to spearhead the rally
Those affected included public service transport, private schools, open-air markets and retail stalls – the majority of which remained closed in major towns as traders feared to lose their wares to looters.
In Nairobi, bus fares on several routes dropped on low number of commuters reporting to central business district.
Residents of Kasarani area commuting to the city center on Monday morning paid Sh50 instead of Sh100 charged on normal days during rush hour while those in Ruaka paid Sh50 instead of Sh70.
Security was tight in Nairobi with a heavy presence of police at the rally venue and around the city center.
AUTHOR: BEN GUMO