As the country prepares to mark the Saba Saba Day of Democracy on Monday, unease is growing in major towns over fears of possible unrest, with businesses scrambling to reinforce their premises and institutions adjusting operations to avert potential losses.
In Nairobi’s Central Business District, traders worked late into Sunday evening welding metal doors and fortifying entryways—painful reminders of the heavy losses many incurred during the June 25th protests.
Among them are Phillip Mamuti and Munio Wa Muchai, electronics traders along Tom Mboya Street, who say the cost of securing their shops has further strained their finances.
“This steel reinforcement alone has cost me half a million shillings,” Mamuti lamented, while Muchai added, “We’re taking loans just to protect our livelihoods. We can’t afford another round of destruction.”
Some traders opted to remove their goods altogether, relocating stock to safer areas.
“We must protect ourselves; we’ve lost too much before,” said Josephat Mumo, echoing the concerns of many small business owners. Cynthia Anyango added, “The last protests wiped us out. We’re not taking any chances this time.”
Outside Nairobi, some establishments have chosen to suspend operations altogether. Thika Road Mall, for example, has informed both staff and customers that it will remain closed on Monday.
The private sector is also responding with caution. The Kenya Bankers Association has advised its members to allow staff to work remotely or from branches located outside high-risk zones such as the Nairobi CBD.
Schools, too, are adjusting. A number of institutions in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret have quietly communicated to parents that learners should remain at home on July 7th, citing safety concerns over the expected protests.
Despite the growing apprehension, the government has issued a firm directive to civil servants: report to work or face consequences.
“Monday is not a public holiday,” Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku warned on Sunday evening. “All government employees are expected to be at their workstations by 8:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m., as per the 2016 Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual.”
