Supermarkets extend operating hours after lifting of curfew

Supermarkets have extended their operating hours after the government lifted the nationwide night curfew that had been in place since last year.

QuickMart Supermarket, Carrefour and Naivas have announced the extension of their opening hours to 9:30pm from the previous closing time of 8pm to serve more customers following last week’s directive.

QuickMart has also resumed 24-hour operations in select branches such as Lavington, Chaka, Jipange, Donholm, Rongai Express and Buru Buru.

The new operating hours by retailers comes soon after President Uhuru Kenyatta lifted the curfew that was introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

“We have effectively resumed 24 hour operations in these six stores to serve our shoppers who work at night or are travelling conveniently especially as we gear up for the festive season,” said Betty Wamaitha, QuickMart head of marketing.

“This is part of our brand promise to deliver on convenience.”

Carrefour, known for offering aggressive discounts on a wide range of consumer goods, says it has also extended its working hours across its branches to 9:30pm. It was closing at 8pm during the 10pm-4am curfew period.

The retailer however said that it does not have branches that operates on a 24-hour basis.

“We have already extended our operating hours in line with the new curfew directive. We hope to see more shoppers in our outlets during this period,” a representative of Carrefour told the Business Daily.

Naivas supermarket has also revised its closing time in outlets in the Coast region.

Its branches in Kilifi and Likoni will open at 8am and close at 9pm.

The retailer’s branches in Bamburi, Ukunda, Mwembe Tayari, Digo road and Nyali will however open at 8am and close at 9:30pm.

President Kenyatta had come under pressure to ease Kenya’s Covid-19 restrictions after a sharp decline in infections and hospital admissions reported in recent weeks.