Book vendors in Eastleigh report booming business with reopening of schools
Parents voiced concerns over the rising prices of textbooks, with many accusing vendors of taking advantage of the high demand to increase prices.
Book vendors in Eastleigh have reported booming business parents flock to the area to buy textbooks for their children.
With schools reopening for the first term of 2025, bookshops and street vendors have seen a sharp rise in demand for school materials over the past three days.
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Parents, some accompanied by their children, have been swarming bookshops and streets where school materials are sold, all eager to purchase the required textbooks. This has brought relief to vendors who have struggled with low sales in recent months.
Robert Ndolo, a vendor selling books outside Madina Mall at the junction of General Wariungi Street and Mohamed Yusuf Haji Avenue expressed relief at the current business activity. He noted that the reopening of schools has brought a much-needed turnaround compared to the festive season when he had almost no customers.
"Last month around Christmas it was really tough. No one was coming to buy any books from me. It was really tough, but thank God it's better now," Ndolo explained.
Seasonal trend
Another vendor, George Muli, shared similar sentiments but remained cautious about the sustainability of the demand. He said that while the current high number of customers is welcome, it is a seasonal trend tied to school openings.
"When schools close, business is low, but at times like this when schools are reopening it is always a blessing to us," George said.
However, parents are voicing concerns over the rising prices of textbooks. Many have accused vendors of taking advantage of the high demand to increase prices significantly.
A book vendor in Eastleigh, Nairobi on January 6, 2025. (Photo: Abdirahman Khalif)
Ahmed Bashane, a parent with three children in school, highlighted the financial burden he is facing.
"A book that was Sh450 is now going for Sh650. Prices of all books have gone up because of the demand. It is tough for us," said Ahmed.
He also noted that January is already a financially challenging month for families, making the situation even harder.
New course books
Adding to the challenges, confusion has emerged over which books are required. This follows the introduction of new course books by the Ministry of Education. Vendors have been left with unsold older stock, resulting in losses.
The school reopening period has also been marked by low attendance in some institutions.
A spot check by The Eastleigh Voice found that schools like New Eastleigh and Eastleigh Airport had less than a quarter of their total student population in attendance on the first day.
Teachers attributed the low turnout to a common belief among parents and students that no meaningful learning takes place on the first day of school.
Despite the challenges, progress has been made in infrastructure development in some schools.
New Eastleigh Primary School has completed three Grade 9 classrooms, while Eastleigh Airport Primary Schools has completed two.
