By NATION Correspondent

Nairobi remained a ghost city yesterday with literally all business premises closed and the workers - who normally teem the city - gone upcountry for Christmas.

Those who did not travel, headed for sub-urban entertainment spots where families, couples and the lonesomes made merry.

Entertainment spots, including the Splash, Carnivore, City Cabanas and the Village Market, were packed to the brim by revellers, while the less endowed Nairobians opted for walks and `picnics' at the City and Uhuru parks.

The almost empty streets, were, however, a god-send to `upcountry tourists', who chose the peaceful atmosphere to explore the city and acquaint themselves with its changed landscape of highrises and potholes. In the absence of the city's `mad driver' syndrome, couples walked the streets holding hands of two or more children.

In the eastern side of the city, the business of slaughter birds and animals intensified as prices sky- rocketed. Hens and cocks went for between Sh300 and Sh450 at Kariokor, while goat was in the range of Sh3,000 at Kiamaiko.

Machakos Airport - the city's main bus terminus - had few buses, though others were streaming back from upcountry trips.

There were still some commuters, hanging around the main public transporters' offices, in the hope of joining their up-country folks for the holiday. However, the travellers' movement on Christmas eve was said to be low.

Transporters complained of less travellers up-country than in previous years and blamed the poor economy for the failure of many residents to travel home.

Although complaints of fare hikes were received from a cross- section of travellers, the low traveller numbers, stabilised fares to most destinations, including the Western Kenya routes, known for being notorious on fare hikes during past Christmas holidays.

However, Kisumu-bound passengers claimed they were being charged between Sh600 and Sh700 for a journey which normally costs Sh300.

More than 200 travellers headed for Malindi, Lamu and Tana River districts were stranded in Malindi town on Christmas eve due to shortage of public transport.

Most of the stranded had travelled from Mombasa and upcountry, intending to connect transport to rural parts.

Matatu (commuter taxis) and bus operators took advantage of the transport hitch to raise fares by between Sh10 to Sh50 prompting most travellers to protest against the move.

Most of the stranded passengers were those seeking to travel to Chaama, Garashi, Lango Baya, Malaga and Adu, among other parts.

Public transport operators blamed the hiking of fares to poor roads, which have not recovered since the El Nino rains pounded them despite pledges by the government that repairs would be funded under a special World Bank funded project.

Pick-ups and lorries which usually transport agricultural produce and other food-stuffs changed cause and started transporting people.

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