Traders in Nairobi’s downtown area woke up on Thursday to billowing smoke and charred buildings, the aftermath of Wednesday’s protests that left a trail of destruction and despair.

Many were seen counting heavy losses, as their businesses lay in ruins.

Enterprises along Thika Road and Outering Road were also targeted, incurring losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of shillings.

Among the worst hit were Kassmatt Supermarkets, whose two branches near the Githurai 45 roundabout suffered significant damage. Several gas cylinders were stolen from one branch.

ATMs belonging to Absa, KCB, and Cooperative Bank were also vandalised. 

Cooperative Bank branch in Githurai was broken into and looted, while Naivas Supermarket’s Mountain Mall branch was also vandalised.

A Bata Shoe shop along Outering Road, near the former Taj Mall, was broken into, looted, and torched, with nothing left to salvage.

Thousands of Kenyans had taken to the streets on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the youth-led protests of 25 June last year, which claimed over 60 lives, left more than 600 injured, and several individuals reported missing.

By mid-morning on Thursday, debris and shattered glass littered the streets of downtown Nairobi.

The air hung heavy with acrid smoke and the smell of smouldering embers.

A spot check by The Standard found blackened shopfronts, charred remains of goods, and shop owners beginning the painful process of cleaning up.

Opportunistic criminals

The OTC branch of Quickmart Supermarket was completely stripped, while numerous businesses, including those in Musa House, were looted and set ablaze by what eyewitnesses described as well-organised criminal gangs.

Victims and civilians alike surveyed the destruction in disbelief around the OTC, Bus Station, and Koja Roundabout areas.

Many accused opportunistic criminals of hijacking peaceful demonstrations to unleash a wave of vandalism, looting, arson, and widespread destruction.

Traders who spoke to The Standard painted a harrowing picture. Looters smashed security grills, emptied shelves, and fled with sacks of stolen merchandise.

“I am in pain,” said David Gitau, a businessman whose electronics shop was ransacked. “They took everything—television sets, phones. Recovering from this will be a tall order. I fear the banks I owe will come after me. Repairing the shop and restocking is a nightmare. I’ve lost nearly Sh7 million.”

Gitau blamed security agencies for laxity during the protests, saying that traders who pay taxes deserve better protection. He also criticised the county government’s delayed disaster response.

“We called disaster management, but they initially declined, claiming lack of security. Since morning, they’ve shown up without adequate water,” he said, appealing for government compensation.

At Climax Travellers Company, management is torn between compensating customers or rebuilding. Their offices were looted, with customer parcels—mainly destined for Nyanza and Western Kenya—stolen alongside property worth Sh2.4 million.

“We don’t know where to begin,” lamented David Omollo, the office manager. “These weren’t Gen Z protestors. They were organised gangs with clearly mapped targets.”

Nearby, Julius, co-owner of Downtown Grill Hotel, stood in shock as he surveyed the ashes of his business.

“About 500 youths who were clearly not protestors invaded the premises. They broke in and stole eight TV sets, a projector, music system and a backup unit—all worth about Sh1.4 million,” he said. 

Julius accused police of neglecting their duty to protect businesses, instead focusing on dispersing peaceful demonstrators.

At the bus station, Yvonne Atieno sat outside her ransacked shop, devastated. A widow and mother of two, she watched helplessly as looters made off with stock worth Sh2.5 million.

“It happened around 10am. I saw them carrying my goods in sacks. I cried in pain. Ironically, some of them even dragged me to the police station, claiming they were ‘helping’ me,” she said. Atieno, who had been trying to rebuild her business through loans, now fears her children’s education will suffer. Her daughter is in her third year at university, and her son is in Grade Four.

“They’ve pushed me several steps back. I don’t know where to begin,” she said, urging the government to step in.

She added: “They must learn how to manage protests. You can’t concentrate all police officers on one side of the city and leave the rest of the city to looters.”

At the Kassmatt Supermarket branch along Thika Road, workers were seen trying to salvage what they could while officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations assessed the damage.

John Waweru, the supermarket’s Chief Operations Officer, recounted how they were forced to lock themselves inside as the situation worsened.

“It was around 5pm when the goons came. They brought tools, broke down the walls, and stormed in. They didn’t just steal—they destroyed everything,” said Waweru, 26.

He estimated losses of stock to be around Sh40 million.

Inside the supermarket, broken fridges, destroyed CCTV systems, and strewn goods painted a scene of utter devastation.

“We’re disheartened as business owners in Kenya. We’re wondering how we’ll recover,” he said. “Fortunately, we had insured the business and hope to receive compensation.”

However, the fate of 60 employees remains uncertain as the management evaluates whether to reopen.

Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria, who toured the damaged areas, condemned the violence and called for responsible protest.

“If you must demonstrate, carry a tree and plant it in memory of the fallen. That would be a peaceful and lasting tribute,” he said.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also visited the city and described the destruction as “premeditated.”

“Those behind the chaos had a clear plan. The looting aimed to instil fear and target properties of government allies,” he said.

He said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations had launched a probe to identify and prosecute those behind the violence.