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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Destruction and deaths during day-long anti-Finance Bill riots

National

By Standard Team | Jun 27, 2024

Tens of youths invaded Naivas Supermarket in Naivasha on Tuesday evening, looting goods worth millions of shillings before torching the office of area MP Jane Kihara. Following the incident, 130 suspects were arrested and security in and around the town beefed up. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

Pain and agony engulfed a number of towns across the country as traders began to pick up the pieces after the nationwide protests left a trail of destruction and loss of lives.

While some claimed the losses to their premises is a drop in the ocean in the bigger scheme to reform the country's leadership, others claimed it will take them time to recover.

In some towns, business premises linked to Kenya Kwanza politicians were targeted by protesters. In Nyanza, however, unlike past protests, demonstrators did not target businesses.

In the South Rift, key business installations were targeted by protesters who looted items, paralysing operations of some traders.

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In Naivasha, for instance, protesters torched the office of the area MP before they stormed and looted Naivas supermarket.

Following the skirmishes in Naivasha, police arrested more than 100 people in connection to a night of terror that saw offices of MP Jane Kihara torched and Naivas supermarket looted.

Among the 130 suspects were women nabbed when looting the supermarket hours after a peaceful demonstration by youths opposing the Finance Bill, 2024.

EPCO hotel where the office of the MP is located was also torched as irate youth left a trail of destruction at the offices of KRA and NHIF during the late Tuesday evening incident.

Following the looting at the Naivas supermarket, over 100 workers have been sent home, with the management saying that they would issue a statement later on about the losses incurred.

Naivasha police commander Stephen Kirui said they managed to recover some of the stolen items and were seeking more suspects following the incident.

“We have arrested 130 suspects who were found looting the supermarket and we are tracking those who vandalised and burnt the MPs office,” he said.

The proprietor of EPCO Hotel Wanjiru Kahura said that she had lost goods worth millions of shillings following the looting by the youths.

She said that her sin was hosting the MPs office which the youths were targeting, adding that all her 40 rooms in the hotel were vandalised.

“They first vandalised and burnt down the MPs office before turning to my hotel and looting beddings and other personal effects,” she said while calling for compensation from the State.

In the wake of massive destruction by protesters, President William Ruto’s hometown, Eldoret in Uasin Gishu County is asking the Head of State to come down and listen to Gen Z.

Business was yet to resume yon Wednesday in government premises destroyed during the daylong anti-tax protests in Eldoret town on Tuesday.

From a Municipal Court building, which hosts a Magistrates Court to County headquarters where Governor Jonathan Bii is located and to one of the biggest public libraries in the North Rift region, Eldoret is reeling from massive destruction that happened at a time Kenyan youth were making their voices heard.

The three government buildings, which were set ablaze by agitated protesters, a majority of them youth aged between 18-29 years, were yet to open for the public.

At the Uasin Gishu County headquarters, shells of two enforcement vehicles, a lorry and a van burnt during the demos lay outside the court set ablaze by the protesters.

Outside the Eldoret public library where the wreckage of five vehicles were burnt, Ida Komen, a fruit vendor was devastated.

Ms Komen’s car was torched. She had parked it, convinced it was the safest area.

Surprisingly, despite the loss, Ms Komen said the protesting youth were agitating for a good cause and asked President Ruto-led administration to listen to the youth’s demands.

Komen said she had forgiven people who torched her car. She said the car might have been torched by criminal elements who joined the peaceful demos.

“As a parent, I forgive them. They (Gen Z protesters) might have acted irrationally. They might have been pained, but I feel more pain because I educated my children through parallel degree programmes. I am still paying loans for their education and it is painful because they can’t get jobs,” said Komen.

Streets of Eldoret, a town christened the City of Champions, had no signages. They were all destroyed during the running battles between protesters and the police.

In Mount Kenya region, business owners and legislators from Mt Kenya region were counting losses to the tune of over Sh200 million following violent protests that left devastation and destruction in their wake.

In Nyeri and Nanyuki towns, two supermarkets owned by Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina were left empty and destroyed with goods worth over Sh200 million looted and the building burnt.

According to his son, Joseph Wainaina, the two supermarkets were now closed and the family was devastated by the loss from the Anti-Finance Bill protests.

"We have no words, it is a loss I cannot estimate fully at this point. We have sent our employees home, it is unfortunate that this is the result of the protests, and we have suffered immeasurable damage to our business," he said.

In Mathira Constituency, the home of Area MP Eric Wamumbi was spared but his livestock and chicken were taken by unknown people who invaded the compound in the evening.

Other MPs including Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto's home remained under heavy police guard with armed officers posted at the gates.

In Isiolo County protesters blocked the Moyale- Isiolo Highway and were dispersed by police officers.

Six people were allegedly shot in the fracas with four of them treated at a private hospital in Isiolo town while one is in critical condition.

In Embu, the County government headquarters were cordoned off with access to the office restricted to only staff members.

A memo from County Secretary Amy Ruria observed that the destruction of property of unknown value was the reason for the directive to restrict access to the buildings.

During demos on Tuesday, protestors set ablaze Governor Cecily Mbarire's offices, and vehicles on the premises and then turned their rage to the area UDA offices that were also set alight.

Meanwhile, Mwatate MP Peter Mbogho Shake who voted for the bill said he was one of the victims of public protests after the alleged Gen Z protesters destroyed his business premises in Voi town.

Shake claimed the protesters were from outside his constituency and were sponsored by his political rivals who were seen dishing out money after the protests in the evening.

“I will hold several meetings in my constituency to explain why I supported the Bill. I supported the bill on my own volition and was not bribed as claimed by certain quarters,” explained the legislator who is also the ACK Taita Taveta Diocese canon.

In the past few days, protesters have stormed the houses of MPs who voted for the Bill. MPs Mohamed Ali (Nyali), Feisel Bader (Msambweni), Ruweida Obbo (Lamu East), Lydia Haika Taita Taveta County Woman Representative, Peter Shake (Mwatate) and John Bwire (Taveta) have been targets of protesters.

In Taveta, the protesters broke into the Bwire’s office in the town and took it over before they left, warning of more protests if the President sign Finance Bill 2024 into law.

In Western, a section of traders in Kakamega town are counting huge losses following massive looting and vandalism during Tuesday’s anti-Finance Bill protests.

Rowdy youth who engaged police officers running battles in Kakamega town also set on fire a county vehicle and the county rental offices along Kenyatta Avenue.

[Reports by Antony Gitonga, Julius Chepkwony, Stephen Ruto, Kiprono Kurgat., Martin Ndiema, Lydia Nyawira, Sammi Mose, Bruno Mutunga, Muriithi Mugo, Benard Lusigi, Renson Mnyamwezi and Clinton Ambujo]