How Eastleigh businesses remained resilient in the face of Gen Z protests

On June 25, 2024, Kenyans in Nairobi stormed Parliament, breaching security to express their frustrations after Members of Parliament passed a controversial finance Bill that sought to increase taxes.

The protests, which began as peaceful demonstrations, escalated into chaos, forcing President William Ruto to shelve the Bill and decline to sign it into law.

The demonstrations, which spread across the country, severely disrupted business in Nairobi’s central business district (CBD). Shops and business hubs closed, fearing damage and looting.

These fears proved justified as numerous businesses in the Nairobi CBD were ransacked and others destroyed by individuals hiding among the demonstrators. Millions of shillings were lost as property was stolen or destroyed by thugs exploiting the protests.

While the CBD bore the brunt of the unrest, Eastleigh, one of Nairobi’s busiest business hubs, managed to maintain relative calm at the peak of the chaos.

On the same day protesters breached Parliament, Eastleigh’s businesses continued operating as usual, thanks to swift action by the Eastleigh Business District Association (EBDA) and local security forces.

Enhanced security measures in Eastleigh were evident on June 25, with police officers patrolling key areas such as Mohamed Yusuf Haji Avenue and Second Avenue.

EBDA, which played a critical role in coordinating security, assured business owners and residents of safety.

Malls remained open

Shops, malls, and public transport services in Eastleigh operated normally. Prominent shopping centres such as Bangkok Mall, Amal Plaza, Yare Mall, Day-to-Day Mall, and Tasnim Mall opened their doors to customers early in the morning. Matatus serving Eastleigh and surrounding routes remained fully operational.

Restaurants in the area also continued serving their patrons without disruption.

As the demos in Nairobi and other towns escalated, EBDA Organising Secretary Omar Ahmed spoke to The Eastleigh Voice about the situation.

"It’s business as usual in Eastleigh. Shops and malls are open as you can see. Matatus are also operating. We don’t expect any insecurity or demonstrations," he said confidently.

However, the calm in Eastleigh did not last long.

Goons force brief shutdown

On June 27, suspected looters targeted the neighbourhood, causing a temporary shutdown of businesses.

The looters entered Eastleigh through General Wariungi Street. Some arrived on motorbikes, while others were on foot, throwing stones as they moved through Mohamed Yusuf Haji Avenue and Athumani Kipande Street, also known as Jam Street. Businesses quickly closed, with shop owners standing guard to protect their premises from break-ins.

The situation escalated when a group of goons entered Eastleigh from Mathare through Muratina Road. Clashes broke out as some business owners decided to defend their shops. Police responded swiftly, dispersing the crowd using teargas.

Later, another group of suspected looters moved onto 12th Street from Mohamed Yusuf Haji Avenue. Here, fights broke out between the goons and local youths who had organised themselves to protect their neighbourhood. Stones flew as tensions mounted.

At one point, the suspected looters raised their hands, signalling they wanted peace. The Eastleigh youths responded by joining them, and together they began chanting "Ruto must go" at the 12th Street roundabout.

This unusual unity lasted for about five minutes before police arrived and dispersed the group with teargas.

During the confrontation, a teargas canister struck Madina Mall, shattering one of its glass windows. The area briefly turned into a battleground as the youths regrouped after every police intervention. The suspected looters eventually left, leaving the local youths to continue clashing with police.

No looting

Despite this disruption, Eastleigh emerged relatively unscathed. No shops were looted or destroyed during the incident, and order was restored by the end of the day.

The June 27 chaos marked the only significant disruption Eastleigh experienced during the nationwide demonstrations. In the following weeks, the business hub continued to operate, albeit with reduced customer numbers and slower business activity.

As demonstrations subsided, President Ruto made significant changes to address public discontent. He dismissed his Cabinet and communicated directly with Kenyans through social media, offering reassurances and outlining plans to address their grievances.

In the subsequent demonstrations, Eastleigh’s business community continued to focus on recovery, hoping for stability in the months ahead.

Although business slowed during these two months, things changed for the better in the following months.