Officials have reported that the Nairobi business community suffered losses exceeding Sh3 billion due to widespread looting and vandalism in the Central Business District (CBD) over the past three weeks.
Wilfred Kamau, chairman of the community, condemned the destruction and theft that engulfed the city, attributing it to organized criminals who exploited peaceful demonstrations by Gen Z to break into and vandalize businesses.
Coordinated effort
“The demonstrators had their agenda, but other groups took advantage. What we saw on television and witnessed even yesterday morning downtown showed a coordinated effort to cause chaos,” he stated.
Kamau accused certain politicians of orchestrating these acts to frame the Gen Z demonstrators. “We know you. Insiders have told us, ‘yes, we were paid to destroy businesses.’ We will come for you,” he warned.
According to the lobby, most vandalism occurred in downtown Nairobi, an area not typically frequented by Gen Z demonstrators, who primarily gathered in central parts of the city.
Kamau questioned the narrative that young demonstrators were behind the chaos.
“How can my son, a Gen Z, think of bringing coffins to town? How can my daughter break into a downtown supermarket? They don’t even know downtown,” he argued.
The community also expressed dissatisfaction with the police and government for their slow response, noting instances where law enforcement took more than three hours to intervene during incidents of looting at establishments like Naivas and other supermarkets.
Benedicta Njeri, a business owner affected by the vandalism, shared her anguish. “I lost over Sh400,000 during Tuesday’s protests. I am new to business in Nairobi, having been here for only six months, and now I have nothing.
They broke into my shop and took everything,” she lamented. Njeri had operated a clothing store on Moi Avenue and had moved to Nairobi with hopes of improving her life, only to be devastated by the recent events.
