Following the closure of learning institution after the outbreak of covid-19 in the country, booksellers in Homa bay county are counting losses due to lack of customers.
A survey conducted by KNA in Homa Bay town revealed that most of the small scale bookshop sellers have closed down and sent home their employees due to low business.
According to the proprietor of Maam Bookshop, Millicent Anyango Matengo, the situation is so bad that only three major bookshops in Homa Bay town are currently in operation while the rest have shutdown.
“Most of the small bookshops have been closed because they cannot pay rent, their employees and other miscellaneous expenses,”Matengo said.
Matengo further disclosed that initially she could sell books worth up to Sh. 20,000 per day that has now reduced to less than Sh.1.000 currently.
She said she was considering switching to other businesses such as selling face masks and sanitizers which are currently on high demand to keep afloat.
“I had supplied books worth Sh 300,000 to ten schools before the onset of covid-19 and up to now I have not been paid that money,” she regretted.
She further said that she is only remaining with two employees out of six she previously had due to the hard economic times.
Her sentiments was supported by her counterpart, Moses Odongo of Larmone bookshop who said that he had printed books which he was to supply to schools but they are still lying in the store.
By Davis Langat
