Residents keep of Murang'a town amid rising tension

Anti-riot police officers doing patrols in Murang'a town on July 7, 2025/Alice Waithera

Tension engulfed Murang’a town for the better part of Monday morning as residents stayed in their homes.

A cloud of an uneasy calm rent the air as most major businesses, especially supermarkets, reinforced their entrances with steel to curb looting.

Unconfirmed reports allege that tens of youths were transported to the town on Sunday from other parts of the region with unknown motives.

Residents who showed up expressed their apprehension, saying they expect as much chaos as was experienced on June 25 when youths took to the streets to protest against police brutality.

Confrontations between the youths and the police lasted until past 8 pm as the latter attempted to access the county assembly and went as far as breaking down a part of its perimeter wall.

“Last time, it started very quietly and later developed into a lot of chaos,” Mary Wanjiku, a retail shop owner, told The Star.

Wanjiku said she chose to open her shop in the morning but closed it down by noon to avoid confrontations with the youths.

Tens of matatus were also seen parked in their parking bays as operators stayed in their homes as police vehicles full of anti-riot police were seen doing rounds in the town.

A quiet street in Murang'a town. Most businesses remained closed as tension filled the air on July

Paul Kimani, another business owner, claimed there were reports that the foreign youths were planning to target some local businesses, prompting the major ones to shut theirs.

Kimani, who had also closed down his business, said he was only hanging around the town to see if there would be any eventualities before going home.

At Kabati area near Thika town, hundreds of youths lit bonfires and broke into a mobile phone shop before attempting to break into a local supermarket, engaging police officers in confrontations.

Evans Njoroge, a resident, said they were surprised by the incident as the town is a small one and most residents know each other.

“The faces we’re seeing are not familiar as these were people who had travelled from somewhere else,” he said.

County Police Commander Benjamin Kimwele confirmed that there is tension in some parts of the county but noted that police were on the lookout for any chaos.

“We’re on the lookout for anything. If you see chaos happening in other areas, you have to be ready in case it happens in yours too,” he said.