Anarchy not an answer to high cost of living - CS Kinyanjui says over recent protests

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has broken his silence following days of unrest across the country, warning that the destruction of businesses witnessed only deepens the country’s economic pain.

In a statement, Kinyanjui termed the damage as not just material but a major setback to national progress and livelihoods.

“As the smoke settles, the extent of the damage and loss of life is becoming clear. Billions have been lost, and many lives disrupted, some forever. An abomination has visited the land,” he said.

Kinyanjui expressed sympathy over the loss of lives and livelihoods, noting that while citizens have a right to be heard, violence and destruction of property undermine progress and economic stability.

“Families are mourning, while others nurse their wounded kin. This is not the reality we desire for a progressive nation. My heart bleeds for the many businesses that were vandalized, looted, and burned down,” he said.

He warned that thousands of Kenyans have now been pushed further into economic despair, with many unable to report to work or reopen their businesses.

Kinyanjui said while the cost of living remains an issue, resorting to destruction is counterproductive and hurts the very people the protests are meant to help.

“We cannot sacrifice our businesses and terminate jobs to protest the cost of living, doing so only worsens the problem. We have added more people to the jobless bench,” he noted.

Calling for peaceful engagement and national unity, the CS emphasised that while the country grapples with economic challenges, chaos is not a solution.

He urged Kenyans to avoid being lured into acts that destroy their own economic pillars.

“Anarchy is not the panacea to the challenges our society faces. We can and must do better than this.”

The CS maintained that national stability must be protected as the foundation for sustainable solutions.