As the festive season draws to a close, many parents shift their focus to the back-to-school rush, a time marked by increased demand for school uniforms, textbooks and other essentials - often accompanied by higher prices.

Parents with school-age children are busy shopping for supplies before the new academic year begins.

Bookstores and uniform shops are buzzing with activity, with long queues at some uniform shops. Interestingly, this year's rush seems to have started earlier than usual.

Vivian Momanyi (in pink) picks up pens in preparation for back to school from a hawker in Nakuru.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

Vivian Momanyi, a mother of a high school student, tells Mtaa Wangu that her experience had taught her the importance of early preparation when her son entered Form One.

She discovered that last-minute shopping often results in inflated prices.

"I work in the city, and when school closes, few people buy uniforms, so you can get better deals," she says.

This year, Vivian noticed that the shops were less crowded, which made shopping more convenient, although the prices seemed a little higher.

She also avoids overspending during the festive season in order to budget for her children's school needs.

A hawker selling pens in Nakuru.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

Abigael Irungu, whose son is starting primary school next year, started her preparations in November to avoid the chaos of last-minute shopping.

"By starting early, I was able to gather everything I needed for enrolment day and compare options before committing to purchases," she says.

Vendors have also noticed the trend. Gideon Ndungú, who sells school socks, reports a significant increase in early shopping.

"Since November, parents have been shopping earlier than usual. In the last two weeks, I've seen an increase in demand for socks, which has prompted me to stock up. I hope this trend continues as the school year approaches," he says.

Gideon Ndungu sells school socks in Nakuru.

Photo credit: Muthoni Wanjiku/Mtaa Wangu

For many parents, starting early is proving to be a practical way to manage costs and avoid the back-to-school rush, setting a new precedent for future academic years.

The secret to beating the back-to-school rush: Nakuru mom's share

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Muthoni Wanjiku