TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting and offers profound insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Nairobi's central business district (CBD) saw a second day of commercial disruption on Tuesday, June 17, as anti-government demonstrations prompted widespread business closures and the halting of normal operations.

While protesters clashed with police and unknown gangs attacked both protesters and onlookers, businesses, offices, and educational institutions remained closed.

Many stores were looted, and the police shot a mask vendor, fueling concerns about a potential escalation.

Business owners eager to safeguard their assets quickly closed their establishments on one street after another.

Stephen Okoth, a trader in Kamukunji, told that they would rather skip the day's sales than see their businesses and property being destroyed.

"Currently, our businesses remain closed until things get back to normal," Okoth expressed his frustration.

The protests broke out after the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.

The complainant in the case, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Eliud Lagat, has subsequently stepped aside to pave the way for investigations.

Lagat expressed his sympathies to the blogger's family after he ordered Ojwang's arrest for allegedly tarnishing his name on social media.

The financial impact of the protests has not yet been thoroughly evaluated, but Nairobi county, which collects over KSh 35 million in revenue every day, is one of the most affected, Business Daily reported.

In the fiscal year that concluded in June 2024, the county raised KSh 12.8 billion.

Having lost hundreds of millions in revenue due to protests in June 2024, the business owners and employees in the CBD were not taking any chances on Tuesday.

According to some, tear gas in the country's capital is becoming a sign of a poor business day.

"We've experienced significant challenges in June, which is a busy month for admissions. A calm atmosphere is essential for business. The unrest is hurting the economy," Helson Ongeso, the principal of Uhandisi Training Institute in Nairobi CBD, noted.

Protest organisers said they will continue to hold demonstrations every Tuesday and Thursday until Ojwang's killers are brought to justice.

In other news, a Nairobi woman was devastated after witnessing a horrific incident that caused internet outrage and shattered many people's hearts.

The woman witnessed a fellow hawker being shot by police.

The hawker had been selling face masks to demonstrators in the CBD.

As she recounted the horrifying incident to her fellow hawkers, the woman couldn't hold back her tears.

She stood up for the victim, saying he wasn't even involved in the protests and didn't steal from anyone.

Source: TUKO.co.ke