Mourners from Mombasa who attended the burial of Raila Odinga in Bondo/ KNA
On Saturday, Bondo Town, in Siaya county came alive with a sudden and electric energy, albeit a mourning period for the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The streets of the traditionally fishing town whose economy rotates around fishing activities in Lake Victoria were pulsing with movement—chants and music drifting through the air from every corner.
Cars honked impatiently as mourners arrived in the small town, a day before yesterday’s burial of the Raila Odinga, at the family’s Opoda Farm, Bondo.
The thousands who attended Raila’s burial came with a blessing to businesses in the region, spanning Kisumu, Siaya and neighbouring Vihiga county.
From hotels, airbnb’s to local lodgings, accommodation demand spiked as individuals and groups sought a place to sleep.
“We were overwhelmed especially on Saturday evening. Despite
doubling prices, we got fully booked,” a manager of a local hotel in Siaya, told
the Star.
Abdulahi Adan, in a social media post wrote: “Bondo Town has erupted! Guests of all manners are streaming all hotels, guest houses and lodgings in Bondo and Siaya towns are fully booked. The PSVs and school buses too are fully booked, people are now arriving in tippers.”
High demand for accommodation spread across all major towns in the Lake Region led by Kisumu, as hoteliers
reaped big.
“On Friday, most hotels were heavily occupied, we had full bookings before some people checked out on Saturday to move towards Bondo and Siaya, but generally occupancy for the weekend has been heavy,” an official from the Kisumu county Tourism Directorate, told the Star.
Some budget hotels which traditionally charge between Sh2,500 per night had hiked prices to above Sh3,500. High end hotels had prices of up to Sh9,500 per night.
Kisumu county Trade, Tourism and
Industry CEC, Farida Salim, yesterday said the city had huge demand for accommodation
with ripple effects being felt across different sub-sectors, including food and
transport.
“It is a sad moment but at the same time businesses gained as they had to offer services. We started being busy on Thursday. Monday is also expected to be busy as it is a public holiday,” she said, noting that Kisumu is strategically positioned as hub for the Lake region.
Other businesses that made a kill were those in printing.
"Individuals in branding material such as capes, t-shirts all had good business," Salim said, " The news got us unaware but Kisumu has hosted other regional and international forums so we were able to provide the much needed accommodation and other services. The capacity is there. We are mourning but businesses got busy during this period."
Boda boda operators also had a field day moving travellers from one point to another, with demand moving as Raila’s body moved from Kisumu to Bondo. Vendors and eateries also cashed in.
Airlines also reported high demand with airfares on the Nairobi–Kisumu route sharply increasing since Friday.
Flights were fully booked on Saturday with buses on the Nairobi–Siaya route also fully booked.
A booking inquiry by the Star yesterday also showed Kenya Airways was fully booked today (Monday) for flights between Kisumu and Nairobi as mourners make their way back to the City and onward travel to other towns and regions.
Kenya Airways in a statement said: “We have increased our flight frequency to Kisumu over the weekend to accommodate the high travel demand.”
It had two additional flights with upgrades to a larger capacity of Boeing 737 for Sunday and Monday.
“We remain committed to ensuring seamless travel for all our guests,” management said.
Ssame to low-cost carrier Jambojet which had five flights on the route as of yesterday. “We added two flights to meet the high demand,” Jambojet CEO Karanja Ndegwa told the Star.
Airfares shot from an average Sh8,300 for low-cost carriers to to Sh19,500. Kenya Airways tickets had a starting price of Sh16,520.Buses on the Nairobi-Siaya route were also not available.
Matatu Owners Association president Albert Karakacha said some Sacco's, among them Umoinner, Embasava and Forward Saccos which operate in Nairobi offered free transport as a result of high demand.
