Eid ul-Fitr preparations in full swing as Ramadhan nears its end

Streets and markets in the Coast region have become a hive of activity as the holy month of Ramadhan nears its end, paving way for Eid‑ul‑Fitr celebration.

Eid-ul-Fitr, a public holiday in Kenya, marks the end of fasting and triggers one of the busiest annual shopping periods, is expected to be observed on March 20. This will depend on the sighting of the new crescent moon.

In Mombasa, major markets such as Kongowea and Mackinnon, popularly known as Marikiti, have been overflowing with crowds. Traders are spilling onto neighbouring streets to display clothes, shoes, and household goods, while shopping complexes across the city see longer queues than usual.

Business owners say this surge reflects a broader Ramadhan‑to‑Eid retail boom, a pattern seen globally where festive shopping drives sales of religious attire and gifts close to the holiday.

Business activities now extend late into the night, as many shops that normally close by 6pm stay open until 10pm or later to accommodate late‑night shoppers. Many Muslim faithful are also flocking to bazaars and temporary pop‑up stalls set up in various strategic areas to buy food, clothes, and essential items in preparation for the Eid celebrations.

Mr Aziz Mohamed, a trader selling second‑hand ‘kanzu’ in Mwembe Tayari, Mombasa, says the sales are good this month because the attire is crucial throughout Ramadhan and on Eid.

"They are wearing the kanzu daily and so many prefer to have more than one piece for prayers during fasting period," said Mr Mohamed.

Traders dealing in food items termed the government’s decision to retain last month’s fuel prices as a blessing, explaining that an increase in the prices would have led to high costs of commodities immediately.

In the latest fuel pricing cycle released on Saturday, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra) stated that the Middle East crisis has not yet affected the cost of affected cargoes.

“It’s fortunate. We receive food products at the market on a daily basis and it was expected that fuel prices would increase by a huge margin. If this had happened, commodity prices would have shot up immediately because of increased transport costs. Many buyers would have probably reduced consumption, that would be a loss for us,” Mr Simon Kiragu, a trader at Kongowea market said.

Mr Farid Mahrus, proprietor of a general store in Lamu Old Town’s Mkomani area, said the final days of Ramadhan bring a major boost to businesses.

“The period towards the end of Ramadhan and as we welcome Eid acts as a peak season for our businesses. Customer spending has increased,” said Mr Mahrus, adding that many faithful prefer shopping at night during the period.

Mr Mohamed Aboud, a grocer in Langoni, said he has adjusted his operating hours to meet the demand. Instead of closing at 6.30pm, he has been extending to as late as 11pm.

Ms Fatma Mbarak, a trader in Lamu’s Riyadha area, said demand for food, clothes, and household items has risen sharply as families prepare to celebrate Eid.

“We’re looking forward to fruitful times ahead. Customers have really been flocking my shop at night. The weekend has been busy all through,” said Ms Mbarak.

Residents say night shopping has become common during Ramadhan as families prefer going out after breaking the fast.

“Shopping is physically demanding. We prefer waiting until after iftar when we’ve broken the fast and regained some energy. That’s when we go shopping,” said Ms Umu Bakari, a Lamu resident.

As Eid approaches, businesses are also aggressively rolling out special promotions and exclusive deals to draw in customers, a trend that small traders are amplifying through social media platforms such as TikTok to showcase discounts, bundles, and limited‑time offers directly to eager buyers.

Reporting by Kalume Kazungu, Valentine Obara and Kevin Odit