Comment posted in our forum by lender mewesten, shared here with his permission
One of the benefits of Zidisha is the opportunity to get a glimpse of life elsewhere.
Member Eric Otieno explains why few Kenyan businesses close in observance of Sunday / holidays (sounds very much like the US trend since the 1960s):
Eric Otieno comments on Dec 12, 2013
You are most welcome Mr.Marvin…..I think in Kenya there are so many factors why many business are never closed on a public holiday:-
-Spend threat-Many feels when you take off at home you spend more and nothing is injected back.
-Many has views that public holidays are meant for civil servant and a few rich to celebrate.
-Kenya being a country in the third world large population have to work more of what they earn.
-Also competitiveness.No one wish to lose his/her daily customers to the other competitor.So you have to keep your shop open day in and day out.
Yes Kenya is a religious country but you find that only 50% of businesses are closed on a Sunday morning and come afternoon only 10% is close till the end of the day.
Like me i do close my shop on Sundays morning then go to church.After church in the afternoon i open.But the funny thing is even when i close my shop,my customers do always come in my house when they need something.
Today was a public holiday but believe me everything was as usual.What i know only Christmas day and new year are the only day where majority celebrates with their family.
Good time a head,
Eric
