Tension in Murang’a as group attempts to access Maguna’s Store

Tension in Murang'a as goons allegedly try to loot / Screengrab

Tension remained high in Murang’a town on Monday evening after a group of people was seen attempting to access a branch of Maguna store amid unrest linked to nationwide fuel price demonstrations.

Videos circulating online showed a fire burning beside the store building as groups of people moved around the premises, raising fears of possible looting and property destruction.

The situation unfolded hours after a day-long strike and demonstrations disrupted transport operations across the country, leaving many roads deserted and businesses either closed or operating under heightened security concerns.

Witnesses reported increased tension around the supermarket as residents and traders monitored the developments, although the extent of damage or police intervention was not immediately clear.

The unrest comes amid ongoing protests over rising fuel prices that have triggered transport disruptions, demonstrations, and isolated incidents of vandalism and looting in some parts of the country.

The government stated that at least four people have been killed and 30 others injured during fuel price demonstrations that turned violent in parts of the country.

Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen accused unnamed political actors of orchestrating chaos and targeting public and private property.

Speaking on Tuesday, Murkomen said the unrest, which erupted amid protests over fuel price increases, had been exploited by criminal groups allegedly mobilised for political purposes.

He confirmed that four people had died and more than 30 others were injured during the protests, describing the loss of life as regrettable.

The CS said the violence, which included looting, road blockades, and destruction of property, could not resolve the underlying fuel price concerns and instead worsened economic conditions.

“It is unfortunate that we lost four Kenyans in today’s violence, which also saw more than 30 people injured. It is regrettable that there are politicians in this country who measure the success of opposition to the government by the number of innocent lives lost,” he said.

“Loitering, violence, blocking roads and vandalising public and private property can in no way bring down the oil prices. If anything, the disruption of transport and closure of business can only worsen the situation.”

Murkomen said government agencies, including the National Treasury and the Ministries of Energy and transport, were engaging transport stakeholders in ongoing talks aimed at addressing fuel price pressures.

“The government, led by the National Treasury and the Ministries of Energy and Transport, is taking steps to engage with transport stakeholders to explore the ways of addressing price increases. We are confident that their talks will bear fruit.”

He claimed that while many parts of the country remained peaceful, some areas experienced coordinated violence involving criminal networks allegedly deployed to attack state-linked projects and individuals perceived to support the government.

“We are, however, concerned that although most parts of Kenya were peaceful, criminal elements in some parts have been mobilised and deployed by rogue politicians to target government projects, property, personal property, pro-government and also property of pro-government leaders,” he said.