NAIROBI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- As Kenyans marked Valentine's Day on Thursday, telecommunication firms offered voice and data bundles at more than half the price while others sold mobile phones at 'ridiculous prices'.
Banks asked citizens not to worry in case they have no cash to treat their loved ones as they can borrow loans at the click of a button to have a memorable day.
Similarly, some hotels gave '10 lucky couples' up to 50 percent discounts on food and accommodation.
E-commerce shops, on the other hand, were awash with 'crazy discounts' on selected items like shoes, clothes and drinks.
Operators of public bus, commonly known as matatus, were not left behind, as some welcomed commuters into their vehicles with fresh roses.
However, the winner of them all was perhaps the Kenya Revenue Authority which used the occasion to remind Kenyans to file their tax returns.
"Why spent a fortune this Valentine's Day to impress her when you can help her file her tax returns?" posed the agency.
These were some of marketing gimmicks Kenyans were treated to on Thursday as citizens joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 'lovers' day.
The firms competed to catch the attention of citizens as they sought to cash in on Valentine's Day.
The day has over the years become a significant occasion for Kenyans especially in urban areas as citizens follow a global trend.
Most Kenyans strive to make the occasion memorable by gifting their loved ones or taking them out for lunch or dinner. And this is what businesses in the East African nation were seeking to cash in on.
"I sent flowers to my wife which I bought from a florist online. But this time round their flowers are too expensive," said Bernard Mutiso, a freelance software developer in Nairobi.
He bought a bouquet of flowers and a bar of chocolate at 5,500 Kenyan shillings (55 U.S. dollars). The same product went for 45 dollars last year.
A survey in the capital Nairobi indicated that flower vendors were selling a bouquet of wrapped flowers at 5 dollars on Thursday, with the price having risen from 4 dollars on Wednesday.
Some also used to the day to visit the Nairobi National Park, which is 20 minutes' drive from the city centre, to mingle with diverse wildlife.
However, not all Kenyans spent the day buying gifts or flowers for their loved ones, a good number showed their love by donating blood or visited the needy and the sick.
At the Kenya National Archives, in the city centre, Nairobi, dozens of people turned up at the St Johns Ambulance tents to donate blood on Thursday as a sign of love.
