Esther Oyugi
Kenya Kwanza Alliance presidential candidate William Ruto, spent a total of Ksh. 50,000 for a mtumba jacket and a pair of sneakers on Monday while out canvassing in Nairobi’s Gikomba market.
The Deputy President was sitting on his automobile when a vendor approached him with a pair of white sneakers. The Deputy President seemed to appreciate them, so the vendor tried to bargain with him over the price.
The trader initially requested the DP to pay him Ksh.5,000 for the shoes, to which Ruto retorted: “Aah hapana, elfu tano ni bei ya juu bwana…(nipe) bei ya jioni…”
The trader then asked Ruto to counter with his own price, to which he then responded saying: “Aya basi, kwa sababu ni hustle, wacha nikupee elfu thelathini hapa ujipange na biashara yako…mimi naona viatu mzuri hii…”
In yet another instance, a second trader offered him an olive-green short-sleeved puffer jacket. After trying it on, he asked supporters “Hii nguo ni noma, si noma?”
He then went ahead to negotiate the price with the lady: “Sasa tupige bei… hapana, elfu mbili ni nyingi! Bei ya jioni!”
“Huyu madam anataka kuninyoa bila maji? Usinione hivo, nimehchanuka msinione hivi!” said the DP amid cheers from the crowd.
In yet another instance, a second trader offered him an olive-green short-sleeved puffer jacket. After trying it on, he asked supporters “Hii nguo ni noma, si noma?”
He then went ahead to negotiate the price with the lady: “Sasa tupige bei… hapana, elfu mbili ni nyingi! Bei ya jioni!”
“Huyu madam anataka kuninyoa bila maji? Usinione hivo, nimehchanuka msinione hivi!” said the DP amid cheers from the crowd.
The two appeared to have reached a consensus for the clothing item – Ksh.1500 – before Dr. Ruto forked out what he said was Ksh.20,000 and handed it down to her.
“Umenikata tano? Chukua elfu ishirini basi ujipange nayo,” he said before giving the wad of cash to her.
DP Ruto has previously pledged that his government will adopt legislation to safeguard small and medium enterprise dealers, particularly those of imported second-hand clothing known as “mitumba,” as part of his presidential campaign.
When Ruto hosted a group of Gikomba market mitumba traders at his Karen home last month, he promised that his administration would put in place the procedures and systems that would lead to the establishment of textile factories here in Kenya as well as guarantee the growth and expansion of the mitumba trade.
Every business has to be appreciated, safeguarded, and encouraged in order to grow and improve.
The deputy president added that new, contemporary markets with designated sections for second-hand vendors will be built by both his government and the county government of Nairobi.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings