Businesses are unable to operate effectively due to recent protests. Many were looted during last week’s demonstrations and again yesterday. As a result, business activity has significantly declined, leading to heavy losses, particularly for retailers and shops. Essentially, all businesses are affected as people have to go home early, disrupting the workday.
Many businesses couldn’t operate for the full day, and some didn’t open at all, adversely impacting overall operations. During demonstrations, businesses often choose to remain closed, and even their staff are afraid to come to work. Some employees come in for a few hours, but businesses then have to close early. The disruption is substantial.
The Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) has not yet quantified the losses, though the government has released some figures. Considering the downtime and the loss of half or full workdays, the losses are expected to be significant, even though exact numbers are not yet available.
Last week, we sent a message pleading with the government to restore normalcy and address the issues raised by the protests. It is clear what Kenyans are demanding, and the government should expedite the process to address these issues so that normalcy can return.
There is property damage, business losses, and loss of man-hours, but also the suffering and pain of Kenyans, including injuries and deaths. The overall mood in the country is one of pain and suffering, which businesses are also experiencing.
The current situation creates an environment of uncertainty and anxiety among employers, employees, and Kenyans as a whole, shaking the very fabric of our nation.
Ultimately, what we need is peace so that people can go about their business and lead their lives without fear.
Our plea to the government is because the government is responsible for maintaining law and order, but also addressing the needs of the population to do that speedily.
