Since the first case of Coronavirus was reported in the country on March 13, Kenyans have had to refashion their way of living as the government continues to impose rules aimed at flattening the curve.
A survey by Visa shows 71 per cent of Kenyans now shop online for their groceries, including fruits and vegetables. Research shows that they have picked up this habit of shopping since the pandemic hit.
This is a huge growth when compared to 29 per cent of shoppers who did grocery shopping online before the first case of Covid-19.
"39 per cent of consumers surveyed say that Covid-19 has led to their first online grocery purchase while 43 per cent have made their first online purchase from pharmacies," the report stated.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, during his June 6 address, announced an extension of the nationwide curfew by another 30 days while relaxing curfew hours to between 9 pm to 4 am.
"We must accept that we are not dealing with a right or wrong opinion we are caught in between two rights. Those who want to open the economy are right and those opposed to opening the economy are also right," Uhuru noted.
While casual labourers have been resuming to business as usual, majority of the corporate workforce is still working from home as companies look to maintain social distancing.
Findings of the report highlight increased anxiety with consumers staying away from all but essential retail. 65 per cent of consumers polled reported going grocery shopping less often and instead, buying items in bulk.
"Overall, the report points to a shift towards online commerce, with cash transactions being replaced by digital payments," the report stated.
Visa East Africa General Manager Corine Mbiaketcha said the pandemic is impacting business everywhere adding that the survey findings suggest shoppers have changed how they shop, and this is already having a major impact on how merchants do business.
"As consumers adapt to the current restrictions, many have changed how they shop and turned to online outlets for their shopping. These changes present challenges but also enormous opportunities for all merchants, including small businesses,” she noted.
