Traders in Nairobi step up security ahead of Gen Z protest

Traders within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) have stepped up security measures to protect their property following renewed public demonstrations ahead of today, when the country commemorates last year’s deadly protests against the shelved Finance Bill 2024.

Protesters have planned to march today, in memory of youth killed during the Gen-Z protests between June and July 2024. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported that 60 youths were killed during the Gen-Z protests last year.

A spot check on various streets in the city showed that cautious traders have taken steps to boost security on their business premises for fear of looters who may take advantage of the march to pillage property.

“I decided to set up iron bars here to protect the glasses from being stoned by the angry protesters. Once beaten twice shy, and that is how I have made the decision that I will not go into a loss again,” a trader Caleb Kimani said. He said looters broke into his shop and carted away valuables during previous protests.

Ms Victoria Njeri is yet to fully heal from what she experienced when protesters stormed into the city a week ago. Her boutique is based at Imenti House located along the busy Moi Avenue which is one of the busiest streets in the city during protests.

Ms Njeri’s boutique was broken into after protesters damaged steel doors and broke padlocks gaining access into the premises. She said that last Tuesday she lost clothes worth Sh800,000.

“This forced us have to a meeting and we decided to add additional strong metal grills as a way of improving security. That is the only way we can salvage our property,” she said.

In addition, she went ahead and set up an alarm system that will limit access to her shop and will alert her through her mobile phone when someone tries to tamper with the door leading to her boutique.

Read: More pain for Nairobi CBD businesses as protests rage

Her colleague Mary Nkirothe, said that they had also agreed to hire people who would ensure that they protect their businesses.

Ms Nkirothe alleged that during the last protest goons who appeared to be hired broke into one shop within Imenti house and that is how they gained access to the other shops.

“After breaking into that shop, the goons who were armed with clubs stole anything they could get. It was a scene I witnessed and never believed that people could be that heartless,” she said.

“That is how we made the decision that we shall need people to secure this place on that Wednesday,” she added.

At Kimathi House business owner have put up grills to secure their properties.

Ms Sarah Kimani, an electric shop attendant said that they have been twice affected by the protests and the owner was not willing to gamble again as he had lost millions.

“We have lost laptops and other valuable electronic gadgets. The owner even opted to go a notch hire and set up bulletproof window panes,” she said.

According to her, securing the place had cost the owner slightly above Sh500,000 but it was worth it as he was assured that it would be difficult to access his premises.

Thousands of youthful demonstrators poured onto streets of Kenya’s major towns across the country in late June 2024 to oppose plans to impose new and higher taxation measures from July, poor governance, and alleged embedded corruption in government.

The countrywide protests, largely organised by youth, prompted President William Ruto to drop the Finance Bill 2024 and form a broad-based government that has included some members of the main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement.