Traders in Thika town are a worried lot as universities prepare to absorb the lowest number of students in recent history.
The town is home to three universities and more than 30 colleges.
The reforms initiated by the Government in the education sector, traders say, have seen their returns shrink as the number of students joining institutions of higher learning continue to fall.
Phyllis Wambui, an employee in an M-Pesa shop, told The Standard business had reduced drastically.
She said when business was good, her employer would take home Sh100, 000 every month.
“These days we are only receiving a commission of Sh30, 000 a month. The student population is decreasing by the day, which is affecting our business. They form the largest percentage of our client base," she said.
For Patrick Mbuthia, who operates a cyber cafe and offers photocopy and printing services, the future is bleak.
He said that untilo 2016, he would make up to Sh4, 000 a day, but today he takes home between Sh1, 500 and Sh2, 000.
“The number of students seeking our services has reduced... which we understand is due to reduction in enrolment,” Mr Mbuthia said.
Hotels have also not been spared, with operators near colleges complaining of dwindling business.
Peter Mutua, who operates a hotel near Gretsa University, says business has been bad since last year.
“The reducing number of students is really affecting our business. Nowadays we are not even cooking a lot of food as we used to. On a good day we used to make about Sh5, 000 but these days we cannot make Sh2, 000 a day," he said.
Others affected are salonists, with most salons near the universities, colleges, and even in Thika town also complaining of reduced business.
Purity Njeri, who owns a salon in the town, said she had noted a slight decrease in the number of young clients.
Thika is home to Mount Kenya University, Gretsa, and Umma universities.
"About half of my clients used to be students who are either in university or in colleges. The numbers have drastically reduced in the past one year,” she said.
