Coronavirus: Nairobi deprived of traffic jams, street vendors deprived of a livelihood

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Kenya has just registered 8 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours and today has 270 patients. The epidemic affects all sectors, even the most unlikely. Nairobi is one of the most congested cities in the world. Street vendors usually take advantage of traffic to sell their goods to stationary vehicles. But with the economic slowdown, there are no more traffic jams and street vendors are almost unemployed.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi , Sébastien Németh

In Nairobi, everyone hates traffic jams, except hawkers, street vendors. Hundreds take advantage of the slowdowns to offer clothing, food, games and various accessories to stuck drivers. Peter Mwirore has been doing this job for almost 40 years and is upset. There are no more traffic jams.

"The  more vehicles that are stopped, the better the business,  " he says. But now the traffic is fluid and the drivers he manages to approach are afraid of his goods, because the government has advised Kenyans not to touch anything, at the risk of being contaminated. Result: he earns 2 or 3 dollars a day instead of 10 usually.

On Waiyaki Way the main artery of Nairobi, notoriously congested, Patrick Maina resumes work after several days of stoppage. Because the government is asking people to stay home, he hasn't been out for two weeks, he says. But today, he took the risk of going to work to try to bring back at least $ 1. Except that people don't even dare touch what he sells anymore. Even his regular customers refuse to speak to him.

The proof in the next minute. Patrick Maina takes advantage of a slight slowdown to approach a driver by tapping on his hood. But the man bursts out and burns a fire. For the hawker with 20 years of experience, you have to think of a plan B. He will now try his luck in garages, at petrol stations, or near parking lots, hoping to survive on a dollar a day.

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• Coronavirus
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