- He adds that prices of almost all the car spare parts have skyrocketed with many costing double the price from their previous prices.
- This has thus demotivating their customers to seek for their repair services.
Image: WANGECHI WANG'ONDU
With President William Ruto's presidency journey having begun, most informal sector workers from Kirinyaga county are urging him to live up to his campaign pledges and lower the prices of spare parts.
In the Jua kali sector, many of the workers have lamented over the un-conducive working environment owing to the tough economic situation.
At the Kutus Juakali Association where car repair is the main activity, the mechanics say it has been hard to get by as most of their customers now no longer require their services.
Charles Riungu, the association’s chairperson says the high prices of metal and car spare parts is one of the key reasons why they are rendered jobless on many occasions.
He says in a week, they can go for up to three or four days without a customer.
“Many are the days we are idle in our businesses as a lot of our customers have abandoned their cars for other modes of transport. This is occasioned by the high prices of the spare parts which prompts them to abandon their vehicles at homes whenever they break down.”
He adds that prices of almost all the car spare parts have skyrocketed with many costing double the price from their previous prices thus demotivating their customers to seek for their repair services.
He is now urging Ruto’s administration to lower the prices of such goods by minimising or scrapping the import duties imposed to help their businesses survive.
He says most customers prefer the imported spares as they are strong and durable as compared to the locally made.
“We would like to appeal to our new government to consider empowering our businesses by revising downwards the prices of the spare parts. We know that a Ruto administration will be citizen centric owing to his promise of empowering the lowly and the small-medium enterprises.”
Another mechanic Andrew Bundi echoed similar sentiments saying the job is a great source of income to most youths who would otherwise be involved in crime-related activities.
It is for that reason he urged the state to fulfil its pledges to empower their livelihoods.
“We are optimistic that the Ruto government will fulfil its pledges and more so create a conducive working environment for us. President Ruto understands our struggles and as such we are optimistic that he will look into our affairs,” he said.
In equal measure he called on it to improve the state of roads to ensure efficient and smooth transport.