Saba Saba: Traders Clear Out Shops Fearing a Repeat of June 25 Violence
Nairobi’s business district is once again under siege—not from protestors, but from the rising anxiety among traders fearing another round of violence during the upcoming Saba Saba demonstrations.
On Sunday, shopkeepers across the CBD and its outskirts were seen clearing their shelves, boarding up windows, and transferring stock to safer locations. The move comes in response to memories still fresh from the June 25 protests, which left a trail of destruction and loss for many.
“We are not against protests, but we are tired of being targeted,” said one trader who preferred anonymity. “Every time there is unrest, our shops become the battleground. We can’t keep rebuilding from ashes.”
The June 25 demonstrations—meant to mark the anniversary of last year’s youth-led protests—quickly devolved into chaos. While many Kenyans marched peacefully, criminal gangs reportedly took advantage of the situation to loot and destroy businesses.
Hotspots like Githurai, Thika Road, Outering Road, and sections of the city centre, including Musa House, bore the brunt. Supermarkets were looted, banks vandalised, and ATMs destroyed. Eyewitnesses described the attackers not as protestors, but as “well-organised criminal gangs.”
In anticipation of similar unrest during the Saba Saba protests, many business owners have resorted to extreme measures. Some are relocating their inventory to homes in safer neighbourhoods. Others have fortified their shops with metal barriers or hired private security.
“This is not sustainable,” lamented another trader. “We want the government to stop treating this as normal. We need both short-term security and a long-term solution to the unrest.”
While the right to protest is protected under the Constitution, traders are urging that it be exercised responsibly. They are calling on security agencies to patrol vulnerable areas aggressively and take swift action against looters.
Saba Saba Day, historically associated with Kenya’s pro-democracy struggle, remains a symbol of civil rights and constitutional freedom. Yet for today’s business community, it also signals fear, loss, and economic uncertainty.
Traders hope tomorrow’s protests will remain peaceful, and that their businesses—and livelihoods—will be spared from the violence that has too often accompanied recent demonstrations.
In other news:Government Warns Saba Saba Protests Could Cripple Kenya’s Economy, Scare Off Investors
Saba Saba: Traders Clear Out Shops Fearing a Repeat of June 25 Violence