Businesses in Nairobi count heavy losses after violent anti-Finance Bill protests

The violent protests against the Finance Bill 2024 that rocked Nairobi and several parts of the country on Tuesday have left businesses counting heavy losses.

With uncertainty looming over the next possible move by the protesters traders in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) have turned their anger on President William Ruto.

Several businesspeople, who spoke to the Nation, expressed their frustrations with the Head of State for not heeding the grievances of the citizens.

Elite Studios Limited which sells top of the range cameras photography equipment is among the shops that were looted after the initially peaceful protests turned violent.

Mr Elijah Kimani, who works as a manager at the shop which is located on Uganda House along Kenyatta Avenue said the shop suffered such a loss for the first time in more than 20 years that it has been in operation.

"We had Nikon cameras, Canon cameras, studio lights, tripods among other items and accessories. All that is gone and we don't have anything inside the shop," Mr Kimani said.

"All the drawers are empty and glasses shattered. We are counting millions of shillings in losses," he said.

The shop was not open on Tuesday yet it was among those that were targeted by the looters.

"We closed business on Monday evening and everything was intact. But the looters gained access by breaking the safety glass," Mr Kimani said, while lamenting that the protests turned into robbery and destruction of property.

He calledon the President do something for the sake of businesses and the investors.

"The President to do away with this bill because right now, the country is burning. There is no need to go ahead with something that all Kenyans don't want. Don't make any amendments to it, just withdraw it completely," he said.

Many other businesses premises along Wabera Street, Standard Street, Banda Street, and Mfangano Street were similarly affected.

At Carrefour Supermarket on Wabera Street opposite City Hall all that is left are empty shelves with the entrance littered with remnants of the stock that was looted.

Electronic shops on that side of the CBD were no spared either.

Irene Waithera is still in disbelief after her new shop which started operating two days ago was looted then burnt down.

She owned two shops along Mfangamano Street and was still in the process of securing insurance coverage.

As it stands, she said, her life has been turned upside down since she took loans to start the businesses.

"President must listen to Kenyans because we have suffered. I have lost a business worth millions of shillings here and I have children. I have school fees to pay and loans to service. The President should listen to the people," said Ms Waithera as she boke down.

She said had a workforce of six employees who have now been left jobless.

Benson Kiarie describes himself as hustler who trusted President Ruto to make things better for all Kenyans.

But now he is counting heavy losses after his retail shop was also looted.

Mr Kiarie said his attempts to plead with the protesters to spare their fell on deaf ears, with some even threatening to stab them with knives.

"I don't know where to start from right now. I think the government should do something. It has to listen to them (the protesters) because if these demonstrations continue, we don't know what we will do," Mr Kiarie said.

All businesses located at Development House on Mfangano Street, the nearby Naivas Supermarket and the adjacent restaurants were looted.

The owner of Medallion Restaurant said he opened his business on Tuesday morning as usual, thinking that the protests would be like the previous ones where businesses were not vandalised or torched.

However, in the afternoon, he said they were exposed following the withdrawal of the anti-riot police officers who were deployed to reinforce security at Parliament Building.

"We tried to plead with them, by giving them food, water, and drinks but they did not listen to us. They went ahead and ransacked our premises and carted away everything they could," said Mr Clarence Chomba, who is the restaurant’s HR.

The staff and some of the customers who were enjoying their meals in the restaurant fled through the back door.

The looters carted away with food, cooking items, sufurias, plates, knives, and TV sets as well as CCTV cameras.

Peter Thiongo, who works at the restaurant, said the situation has rendered about 50 employees jobless as the owner ponders the next move, since the restaurant did not have an insurance cover.

"We are here just looking for where to start. Our workplace has been demolished completely... we had to hide inside the store until around 6pm when the police restored order," Mr Thiongo said.

Quickmart Supermarket along Mfangano Street and Naivas Supermarket along Moi Avenue were also looted by the protesters.

Boutiques, salons and accessories shops inside Sianda Market were similarly looted and burnt down.