Eastleigh

Eastleigh streets alive with business activity after Ramadan hiatus

An aerial view of Nairobi's Eastleigh area. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)

By Abdirahman Khalif | Friday, April 12, 2024

As Eastleigh settles back into its usual rhythm, the end of Ramadan marks a return to normalcy for residents and businesses alike.

After a month-long hiatus due to Ramadan, Eastleigh is bustling once again with activity. The fasting period, which saw restaurants close during the day and a dip in business during the early morning hours, has come to an end, bringing relief to residents and businesses alike.

With Ramadan behind them, restaurants in Eastleigh have swiftly reopened their doors, some even boasting improved amenities following renovations.

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The streets are now bustling with activity once more, with more people out and about. Bodaboda operators, who were particularly affected by the decrease in customers during the morning hours, are now finding passengers more readily available.

Emanuel Mwonyonyo, a bodaboda rider, said business has improved since Eid. He said he has been receiving more customers as compared to Ramadan days.

"It has been better. Business is improving now compared to the Ramadan period," said Emanuel.

As the first Friday following Ramadan, the streets were teeming with thousands of Muslims, many of whom could be seen enjoying lunch in various eateries after attending Friday prayers.

At Curubo Hotel on Twelve Street, hundreds gathered to feast on a variety of delicacies, including Kostato (boiled then fried camel meat), Lahmandi (oven-cooked goat meat), Pilau, and chicken, marking the newfound freedom to enjoy lunch once again.

Yunis Hussein expressed mixed emotions about the end of Ramadan, stating, "I will miss Ramadan, but having lunch once again feels great. Having lunch is a privilege, really. This is honestly a blessing."

Fridays hold special significance for Muslims, who often gather to share meals after the congregational prayers.

While many have returned to regular eating patterns, some continue to fast the non-obligatory six days of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar that follows Ramadan.

Muslims believe that fasting these six days, in addition to the thirty days of Ramadan, carries great spiritual reward, akin to fasting for an entire year.

However, unlike the elaborate iftar meals during Ramadan, those observed during the six days of Shawwal are typically more modest in scale.