, NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 25 – President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret are in Mombasa on Christmas holiday.
They attended the Christmas eve mass at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Nyali, where they urged Kenyans to celebrate peacefully while embracing unity.
Deputy President William Ruto emphasised the need for everyone to reflect on the previous year and plan for a bigger and better 2020 which is days away.
He stressed the need to “remember those who do not have as much we do and let us drive safely and obey traffic rules. We should be law-abiding citizens.”
There were mixed reactions from Kenyans on their 2019 Christmas plans, with some opting to not to travel.
While others packed and left for various destinations to join loved ones, there are those who said they will not be making movements due to the harsh economic times.
Others said they are saving for January when schools will be re-opening, with heavy financial obligations including fees and textbooks.
In Nairobi, several families opted to spend Christmas at Uhuru Park which is known for various fan activities for children, including face painting, horse-riding among others.
“I have not used a lot of money. I have spent roughly Sh5,000 and I have come all the way from Rongai. I would like to urge all those in town to come to Uhuru park and let us enjoy the beauty of our country,” one holiday-maker said.
A recent survey by TIFA, a market research company based in Nairobi, shows that 11 percent of Kenyans do not intend to spend money at all for Christmas due to the harsh economic times while 42 percent of Kenyans plan to spend less than they did last year.
Public Service Vehicle operators who spoke to Capital FM said they were experiencing low turnout of passengers traveling for the Christmas celebrations compared to last year.
A spot check by Capital FM at various bus stations in Nairobi on Christmas eve showed that there were few passengers seeking transport means to upcountry destinations.
Daniel Makau, a PSV driver at the main bus station in Nairobi, attributed the decline to tough economic times.
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