Traders count millions in losses after protest looting and arson across Kenya

Traders are reeling from massive losses after criminals exploited the protests to loot shops, vandalise property, and torch businesses, leaving behind destruction worth millions of shillings.

Those affected were mostly traders around Moi Avenue, Koja area, and other parts of downtown Nairobi where mobile phones, clothes, motorcycle spare parts and other electronics were looted in a blatant show of impunity by thugs who the traders claimed to have set their targets on particular shops.

At the Koja area, traders said shops were broken into, looted, and later set on fire—an arson attack that caused the greatest loss to one trader who had recently acquired new printing machines.

"In my shop alone, it's an approximation of Sh2 million because the stock was new, and also my neighbour lost a lot of paint. We deal with designer shoes, model shoes and artists' tools, and all of them were burnt," Kelvin Ambani, another trader, said.

Narrow escape

Two brothers who co-own a business said one of them narrowly escaped harm after locking himself inside their shop to finish some pending work and managing to sneak out upon hearing commotion outside.

"Around 10 minutes after we received some update on WhatsApp that the situation had gotten worse. We were afraid to come because we knew it was not secure for us. We thank God for life, but if protests result in this, then definitely we do not have a future for these, "one of the brothers said.

They pleaded with the government to provide security in future protests, so that their source of sustenance is guaranteed.

"You can see from inside the shop that there are just ashes, there is nothing we can rescue from this, so we definitely ask well-wishers if there is kind of support they can give because we have been reduced to zero. It had taken us some years to come up with this business, but now it's done. Completely done," the trader said.

Immense losses

The rampant destruction extended to other counties with Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri, Embu, Machakos, Makueni, Kajiado, Nakuru and so forth recording immense losses.

The government said a total of 27 national and county government vehicles were destroyed, and 65 civilian vehicles parked in various police stations, including a school bus, were also burned.

"Five firearms were stolen in Dagoretti Police Post, Kiambu County, while four were burnt at Gachui Police Post, by the very criminals who hid behind the pretence of a peaceful protest."

"Government offices, including courts, national government and county offices, were looted and burnt. Businesses worth billions of shillings were massively looted.

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The criminals targeted kiosks, supermarkets, electronic shops, hotels and restaurants, among others.

"Just like government infrastructure, business and residential premises were burnt, including one owned by the Catholic Church in Embu County," Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen said.

He added that critical infrastructure such as roads, railways, electricity and water were also vandalised.

"This was not just violence. It was an orchestrated campaign of terror, an assault on our people, our Constitution, our institutions, our values, and the very soul of this Republic," he added.

The ministry promised to bring the looters and persons behind the chaos to justice.