Angry residents protest killing of businessman

A man holds a burning tyre during a protest over insecurity in Huruma, Nairobi on Sunday. [Photo: Kibera Mbugua/Standard]

By Cyrus Ombati

NAIROBI, KENYA: Some Huruma estate residents in Nairobi on Sunday barricaded Juja Road to protest the killing of a businessman by thugs.

The victim is said to have been shot dead by unknown gunmen who escaped with the Sh50,000 he had with him and other valuables.

He was killed as he walked to his place of work within Kiamaiko area on Sunday morning, witnesses and police said.

This sparked protests by fellow businessmen and some residents, who claimed the attackers were known by police but they have not been arrested. Protestors barricaded Juja Road with burning car tyres before police dispersed them using teargas.

The angry mob also demolished some kiosks in the area, claiming they were housing criminals behind the attacks.

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  Expect more space debri: Expert warns
• 
  Impact of Gen Z protests ripples through real estate
• 
  New faces of impunity
• 
  Tough 2024 did not kill the spirit of Kenyan entrepreneurs

Systematic attack

It took the arrival of anti-riot police led by Nairobi Area police boss Moses Ombati to restore calm in the area.

One of the protesters claimed the attackers seem to target members of his community, saying up to four people have been shot and wounded in the past three months in what seem to be systematic attacks.

Another one said the attackers target meat traders in the nearby Kiamaiko market and appealed for firm action from police to prevent further attacks.

But police denied the claims, saying the incidents were random robberies by  criminals in search of a quick buck.

Starehe OCPD Samuel Anampiu said police were looking for criminals who are believed to be behind the attacks.

“The attacks are random. They are not targeted at a particular community or group. We are looking for the gang behind them,” he said.

Anampiu assured the protesters that they would beef up  patrols in the area,  especially at night.

The incident came a day after a similar one in which residents of Mathare slums torched more than 30 houses to protest the killing of a resident.

Stoned police

The slum dwellers were angered by the stabbing of one resident by unknown attackers on Friday night, before they burnt down shanties they claimed were housing the  attackers.

The arsonists stood besides the burning houses and even stoned police and fire engines that arrived to put out the fire.

Police increased their patrols in the the area on Sunday amid rising tension to forestall retaliatory attacks by those whose structures were flattened.

Some of the victims have since re-constructed their houses.