THE ongoing war on terror and the approaching elections have affected curio business in Malindi. The vendors said the number of tourists buying from them has reduced significantly.

A Vendor, William Nyabwari alias Kenyatta, said they are now incurring losses. "After the Garissa, Mombasa and Tana attacks, our business has dropped drastically because the number of tourists has reduced," he said.

"At least 80 per cent of vendors close the day without even getting a single cent," he added. Kenyatta said that few tourists who come to theirs stalls are those who currently stay with friends.

"Few customers we get here are brought to us by our customers who are now residents in the country. They are not very good buyers because they are brought by friends who have stayed in the country for long who help them to bargain a lot."