The move will also ensure 100 per cent voter turnout.
There have been calls from leaders including President Uhuru Kenyatta to ensure more people turn out to vote to ensure Raila Odinga wins.
On Thursday Kisumu city manager Abala Wanga said bars, restaurants, lodgings, and kiosks amongst others will be closed.
He said the businesses will be opened once voting ends.
Speaking in Kisumu, he said this will not exclude supermarkets and they would write to them on the same.
Wanga said a circular will be released on Friday morning to that effect.
“We are asking and not forcing. This will look like a public holiday to allow people to go and vote,” he said.
Wanga said those planning to buy foodstuffs and other items can do so on August 7 and 8.
He said matatus and boda boda operators will operate to ferry people to go and vote.
The directive comes even as Uhuru drummed up support for Raila during his two-day tour in the region.
Uhuru urged the people of Nyanza to turn out in large numbers and vote.
He said for Raila to win, they must mean business by voting and not just supporting him by word of mouth.
“I heard you people only say by word of mouth. On D-day, one says let me go fishing, another looks after the wife, and another goes to the bar citing the day a public holiday,” he said.
“That is the problem. If you believe in what you say, on August 9 make it a requirement that before anyone engages you, he or she must have voted.”
He said Kisumu people mean what they say hence they should prove that in the ballot box.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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