Murang'a businesses incurred Sh500m losses during Saba Saba protests – traders

Goons looting County Supermarket at Kabati town in Kandara, Murang'a/ALICE WAITHERA

Businesses in Murang’a county incurred losses of more than Sh500 million following Monday violent protests that erupted in several towns, traders have said.

James Waweru, the chairperson of Murang’a County Business Forum, told journalists on Tuesday that apart from the destruction of property and theft, businesses incurred huge losses just from the hours-long closure.

Hundreds of youths targeted County supermarkets in Kabati and Kenol towns. They broke into them and looted.

“Our preliminary findings indicate that the destruction that occurred in Murang’a was perpetrated by youths who are not residents,” Waweru said.

“How can residents of Kabati town destroy the one business that can offer them employment? Can an ordinary person just break into a supermarket?”

He condemned the violence, noting that goons seemed to target major businesses in specific towns.

Waweru said they were caught off-guard, adding they will be prepared to protect their businesses in future.

The county, he said, has more than 40,000 small-medium enterprises that have a big enough workforce to guard their businesses.

“Let me be very clear, we have no issues with Gen Z protesting. It’s their constitutional right. What we are against are the goons targeting our businesses”.

Murang’a County Business Community Forum chairperson James Waweru /ALICE WAITHERA

Habire Chege, a resident of Murang’a town, claimed some unnamed people had previously demanded Sh2 million from major businesses for their premises not to be attacked.

The businesses attacked, he said, were the ones whose owners refused to part with the money, forcing some to reinforce their entrances with steel.

Chege said the demands indicate the protests were hijacked by unscrupulous individuals seeking to make a killing from desperate traders.

“They camped at one of the supermarkets in Murang’a town until the wee hours of Tuesday morning trying to access it,” he said.

A group of the goons positioned in Sagana town in Kirinyaga county blocked the Sagana-Murang’a road and demanded Sh200 from passersby, reports indicate.

At some point, reports claim the goons would flag down motorists and ask them to transfer all they had on the M-Pesa accounts to be allowed to pass.

Boniface Maina, a business owner in Murang’a town, wondered why the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was not able to detect the plans being made to disrupt peace in the region.

While underscoring the need to uphold peace for businesses to thrive, he underscored the need for the state to listen to Kenyans’ grievances and make attempts to address them.

“It's important that leaders stop chest-thumping because these conflicts are dampening the economy and affecting us all,” Maina said.

Murathi Magochi, a trader in Murang'a town, addressing journalists

He also condemned the use of live bullets on protesting Kenyans by police officers.

Murathi Magochi, the proprietor of a retail shop in the town, said the goons seemed to have had their sights on businesses owned by prominent businesspersons.

“They targeted Magunas supermarkets in Murang’a and ended up burning one branch in Meru. They looted four branches of County supermarket and looted Nice Digital City in Kirinyaga. All these are businesses that employ thousands of local youth,” he said.

Murathi said the destruction has worsened joblessness as many youth were unable to resume their jobs on Tuesday after the looting.

“If there were 1,000 jobless youths in Central by Monday, the number has now risen significantly. This can’t have been done by residents. How can one destroy a business that employs their parents or siblings?” he asked.

Murathi said they are waiting for the government to disclose who were behind the mayhem, saying the CCTV cameras installed in most businesses should help identify the looters so they can point out their facilitators.

He said most Mt Kenya residents rely on businesses to supplement their income and targeting their enterprises weakens the economy of the region.

Annabel Njambi, the proprietor of County Supermarket, said the goons even made away with shelves, trolleys and commodities.

“Where would a demonstrator take shelves? Isn’t that someone planning to destroy me financially?" she posed.

Njambi said her business incurred losses amounting to Sh100 million, with Kabati and Kenol branches in Murang’a, and Kagio and Kagumo in Kirinyaga, being looted.

“I have employed about 300 youths from local communities. Some will have to go home now. Some have been destroyed too much and have to be repaired. What will we do with these children?” she asked, breaking down in tears.

In Kirinyaga county, the proprietor of Nice City Digital said his business complex incurred losses worth Sh50 million after goons broke into a supermarket and one hotel where they ate the ready food and destroyed furniture.

In Meru County, goods worth millions went up in flames when goons looted Magunas supermarket before burning it down at Makutano.