Business people count their losses two months after the terrorist raid

On April 2, four gunmen affiliated to the Somali-based terrorist group Al-Shabaab raided a university college in Garissa. In its aftermath, 148 people, 142 of them students, were killed, while 90 others were left with serious injuries; a few are still unaccounted for. 

A day after the attack that shocked the world, Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi announced the closure of the university and immediate relocation of the students who survived the attack to Moi University’s main campus in Eldoret, the parent university of the Garissa campus. The effect left behind by the attack still vibrates cross all important sectors in Garissa County and beyond.

Business and education bore brunt of it all. 

Ibrahim Hassan is one of the people whose businesses were disrupted by the terror attack. His promising business took a nose dive and he is now struggling to remain afloat. 

“I used to order 70 crates of soft drinks and a similar crates of mineral water every week, which would be finished sometimes in the mid of the week. But today, I only order four crates of each product, which sometimes does not get customers,” he said. 

His shop, which is only 50 meters from the gate of the ill fated college is among the many shops, hotels and saloons that sprouted up due to the growing customers provided by the institution, which had over 800 students. 

TERROR ATTACK

He added: “Business was booming before the terror attack occurred. Students were our main customers but with the closure of the institution following the heinous attack, we are suffering.”

“I used to make on average Sh50,000 turnover on good days, but this days I’m not making anything near that figure for even a good month. The attack was a double blow for us — the community living around the campus. Apart from losing in business we too lost many of the students who we had developed a lot of closeness with.”

Next to Hassan’s shop towards the university, is a restaurant whose structures are falling apart. The hotel which was popular with students since it was offering pocket friendly menus is now a shell of what it used to be two months ago. 

The hotel has its name written boldly on a faded board which reads: Welcome to Tawakal Restaurant, Where Eating is not Dictated by Class.

Mr Hassan says before the university attack, the hotel was full of activities, with students jamming the place for orders.

“Students enjoyed eating at the hotel since they could order the food of their choice at a friendly price and get served promptly. Some dedicated student customers where also enjoying credit. 

“During the evening and weekends, you could find many students in this hotel eating while discussing class work. Sometimes, there was inadequate space for them and some would be forced to sit on mats at the back of the hotel to take their foods and drinks,” he says as he takes the  Nation team around the now closed restaurant. 

Businesses across Garissa town have been counting heavy losses since the attack. This was made worse with the subsequent curfew imposed on the four counties of Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Tana River by the government as measure to address insecurity in the region. 

Investors who would have taken advantage of the fast growing town are now scared to do business in northern region, for their fears of Al-Shabaab militia that has vowed to step up their attacks inside the country are valid; Kenya is yet to pull out its soldiers out of Somalia, a key demand of the terrorists. 

SUPERMARKET

The once magnificent building in town that housed fast thriving Naivas Supermarket was closed five days after the raid; this was after it emerged that the supermarket was among the laces earmarked for terror attacks. It operated for just six months before making a quick exit from town. 

Traders lament that the curfew has interrupted the smooth running of their businesses. “Business would usually pick up in the evenings, but this is when the curfew starts. This is when travellers arrive in the town or pass through on their way to others parts in the country,” Amina Hussein, a street fresh camel milk vendor said. 

“I used proceeds from the sales of camel milk at night to educate my children, pay bills and settle taxes. People prefer to make their shopping in the evening due to scorching temperatures during the day”, she explained, adding: “But these days there are no customers as people have to retreat to their houses as early as 4pm for fear of being arrested by police. This forces us to abandon our trade as well, with the consequences of us becoming beggars to make ends meet. 

“Curfew has really affected my barber business because normally there are a lot of customers who prefer to cut their hair from 6pm to 10pm. Most customers would rather avoid the hot sun or are otherwise busy during the day. Before the curfew, I was making a lot of income but for the last one month, I am struggling to pay rent,” John Batian, a barber, told the  Nation. 

By 5.30pm, the normally busy main Kismayu Road that stretches from Nairobi to Somalia becomes deserted, except for the security men doing patrols. 

SUPKEM

The once safest town in East and Central Africa, at least according to international police in the year 2010, is now characterised by heavily armed police in every corner. 

Local leaders believe Garissa would still hold the title of being the “safest town” if it were not for the heartless gunmen who have staged attacks that target non-locals in a desperate bid spark inter-faiths conflict in Kenya. 

“We believe Garissa is still safe, there are no cases of robbery or other major crime unlike other major towns. Terrorism has really changed the status of this town,” said Abdullahi Salat, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslim (SUPKEM) chairman, Garissa branch. 

He said the terrorist’s aim was to create wedge between Muslims and Christians who have been co-existing peacefully for many years. He reiterated that Islam and Muslims are not in any way party to heinous, barbaric and inhuman acts of whatsoever form. 
“Islam equates the killing of innocent souls to the killing of entire mankind. Killing innocent, regardless of their religious and ethnic background is the biggest mischief on earth according to Islamic teachings,” he said.