Publication:

An Investigation on The Impact of Covid-19 Restrictions on Kenya’s International Trade Relations: A Case of Eastleigh Market, Kamukunji, Nairobi County

The first case of Covid-19 emerged in China between October and mid-November 2019 according to David Roberts in the journal PLOS Pathogens. However, its rapid spread around the world lead the way for the covid-19 pandemic to be officially declared as a global emergency/pandemic in early 2021. Several measures were immediately adopted by different nations with some announcing total bans on international travel, lockdown, and suspension of all public gatherings. These measures to contain the virus affected global trade and caused international trade to slow down and caused losses. Despite developed countries putting in place funds to caution impact of economic loss, developing nations could not afford the expensive Covid-19 caution funds and many small businesses were affected and closed down. Kenya was not spared from the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. It had to adopt measures including suspension of all international flights and incountry lockdown. These measures affected local markets such as Eastleigh market in Nairobi. This study assesses the impact of Covid-19 on Kenya’s international trade focusing on the Eastleigh market. This study will explore the impact Covid-19 had on the Eastleigh market and will identify recommendations to help recover from the losses resulting from the covid-19 restrictions. This study will also investigate the impact of Covid-19 travel restrictions on Eastleigh market trade relations with China, examining the effects of Covid-19 travel restrictions on Eastleigh market trade relations with India access the influence of Covid-19 travel restrictions on Eastleigh market trade relations with UAE . The research used mixed methodology approach and descriptive research design; The paper targets 3000 traders Eastleigh Business Committees (EBC) purposively selected. However, the sample size using Slovin’s formula (SF) gave 3000 participants Further random sampling was used to arrive at 612 out of the sample size of 3000 participants who understood the study’s topic and had quality information on the impact of Covid-19 restriction restrictions business market. Out of the 612 participants targeted, a Structured questionnaire and interviews was used as the main research instrument with the help for 5point Likert scale that showed the extent to which the participants agreed to various statements. A pilot test was taken from Thirteen randomly selected traders from the Eastleigh market; however, their results will not be included in this study. The completed questionnaires will be edited by the use of Microsoft Excel version 2016 results tabulated and presented in graphs and percentages. The researcher concluded that the COVID-19 restrictions, based on the research findings, is a key factor that impacted negatively the trade international trade relations between Kenya and its trade partners. he outcome is expected to provide details of how the Covid-19 restrictions affected Eastleigh market international trade and recommendations for improving international trade..