What started as a cry for justice on Wednesday left at least five counties grappling with the staggering aftermath of looted businesses, vandalised property and disrupted services.
The cost of rage in Nakuru, Embu, Nyeri, Eldoret, Murang’a, Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua, is now being tallied in broken storefronts, lost livelihoods and strained public resources with no quick fix in sight.
In Nakuru City, the smell of tear gas still lingered in the air as many traders stood in disbelief, staring at shattered glass and broken doors of businesses they had spent years building.
Ms Maureen Kwamboka, a shop owner, said she closed her business when protests escalated, but her shop was still looted shortly after thugs stormed the nearby Total petrol station in the CBD.
Kelvin Mwangi, a trader at Imenti House in Nairobi, assesses his shop which was among business premises that were looted during violent protests on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“They came in with stones and metal bars. They weren’t protesters but thugs. We pleaded with police officers, who watched from the sidelines, to help us but they didn’t intervene. I’m a single mother and depended on this shop to support my family. I don’t know who to turn to now,” she said.
Businesses were also vandalised in Molo town. The owner of Capitol Supermarket, Eliud Mukiri, said youth arrived at his premises around 7pm and shattered windows before breaking in.
“I went inside to assess the damage. While inside, the protesters who had turned into goons returned and found me there. They beat me up before I managed to escape,” he recounted.
According to Mr Charles Mariuko, chairperson of the Molo Business Community, there were no security officers in sight as the destruction unfolded.
“These were not normal protests. Protesters turned into goons who terrorised traders and looted goods worth millions,” he said.
In Nyandarua’s Ol Kalou town, civil servants from both the county and national governments were stranded on Thursday morning after their offices were torched during the protests.
Among the installations set ablaze were the assistant county commissioner’s office, sub-county education offices, county government offices and part of the Ol Kalou Police Station.
Nyandarua County Police Commander Stella Cherono said investigations had begun to arrest those behind the destruction.
“I urge protesters to refrain from damaging public or private property. Those involved will be held accountable,” she said.
Coordinated destruction of property
Mt Kenya region leaders condemned what they described as coordinated destruction of property. Looters targeted supermarkets and individual shops in Nyeri, Embu, Karatina and Murang’a towns, breaking into premises and carting away items.
In Nyeri, thugs looted Naivas Supermarket after engaging in running battles with anti-riot police officers who were trying to keep them at bay.
Before gaining entry into Naivas, they had camped outside Chieni Supermarket, owned by Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, where they were repulsed by hired goons and police officers.
For over five hours, thugs clashed with police outside Chieni Supermarket, but law enforcers, supported by hired locals stationed on rooftops, managed to repel them.
Looting continued into the night as thugs broke into other businesses in the same building that houses Naivas, including Optex Optician and Eye Clinic and the NCBA Bank branch.
At the eye clinic, looters stole spectacle frames, medical equipment, four computers and furniture. At NCBA, the ATM was vandalised and the banking hall broken into.
In Murang’a, property owned by the county government was destroyed, businesses closed and residents mugged during the chaos.
Murang’a Public Transport Welfare Union chairperson Simon Kibe said the sector lost over Sh30 million due to service withdrawals, attacks and arrests.
“The protests were infiltrated by gangs. While normal picketing should end by 6pm, we experienced chaos until past midnight,” said Mr James Maina, a member of the Hawkers’ Association.
A policeman guards a vandalised shop in Nyeri town following anti-government protests on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Mrs Mariam Saidi, 76, from Mjini Estate, said she was mugged and lost her phone, Sh300 in cash and shopping worth Sh700.
In Embu town, thugs raided Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) offices. Part of the KRA office was torched, while computers, chairs and other items were looted. A Safaricom shop and National Bank were also ransacked.
The thugs first chased away security guards then smashed doors and windows before storming into the buildings and looting them. Riot police arrived after the damage had already been done.
Earlier, thugs had broken into Mathai Supermarket in Embu’s Central Business District and made away with various items. Motorcycles were used to ferry the stolen goods as stunned residents looked on.
Business in Karatina town was paralysed for much of the day on Wednesday as thousands of demonstrators poured into the streets. Property worth thousands of shillings was looted from Mathai Supermarket.
“Police must conduct thorough investigations and bring to book those who destroyed buildings and looted property,” he said, denying claims that he participated in the protests.
Full extent of damage and losses
“Those peddling falsehoods should know that Embu residents are wise enough not to fall for such propaganda,” he said.
By Thursday, the full extent of the damage and losses from looted businesses remained unclear.
“At around 1pm, the protest turned chaotic as a crowd of over 3,000 people began targeting buildings and clashing with police,” he said.
In Eldoret City, more than 70 suspects were arrested during the demonstrations. Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi said the suspects will be arraigned in court on Friday.
Mr Mwanthi confirmed the death of one protester during the chaotic demonstrations that disrupted transport activities along the Eldoret-Uganda highway.
Among those arrested are five suspects accused of setting ablaze a police lorry in Huruma area. Other suspects had allegedly broken into Khetia’s Supermarket and were caught looting.
Religious leaders from the North Rift region called upon the government to form a dialogue committee to reconcile the Gen Z with the government as soon as possible.
Reporting by Waikwa Maina, John Njoroge, Mercy Koskei, Titus Ominde, Mercy Mwende, Stephen Munyiri, George Munene and Mwangi Muiruri
