As families mourn their loved ones, traders count losses after violence

Grief on Tuesday engulfed families across the country as the reality of the violent Saba Saba crackdown sank in.

While some were mourning their loved ones killed in cold blood by police officers, traders were in pain as they began picking up the pieces of what was left of their investments that were destroyed by looters and goons.

A spot check by the Standard revealed that three families in Ol Kalou and Naivasha towns were mourning the deaths of their loved ones, killed in separate incidents involving police.

The families have condemned the police for using excessive force to disperse the protesters, stating that their actions were unjustified.

In Ol Kalou, Nyandarua County, an up-and-coming musician named Joseph Menda, better known as Champion Kings, was shot dead by police at Tumaini Trading Centre.

He had recently released his new song, “Nchi Yetu Kenya,” and was among the young people participating in the protest. Another colleague of his was shot in the leg and taken to the hospital.

Residents reported that the two were part of a group of youths who had attended a brief prayer meeting at the centre before heading to the streets.“It was then that the police intercepted them and opened fire. He died on the spot,” said a resident, James Karani. The authorities later moved his body to the JM Kariuki Hospital mortuary.

In Naivasha, several individuals, including a college student, were killed during the protest. At the height of the violence, the Viwandani police post was set on fire, multiple hotels and shops were looted, and 20 people were taken to Naivasha sub-county hospital with various injuries.

Among these, eight protesters sustained gunshot wounds, four police officers were injured and the remaining individuals were either assaulted by police or injured while fleeing.

There were allegations that some individuals who looted businesses and caused destruction were brought in from outside the lakeside town.

At the Naivasha police station, families were in mourning. The family of 19-year-old Antony Kariuki received devastating news about his injuries, only to learn that he had succumbed while undergoing treatment.

His mother, Rahab Wambui, who had traveled from Narok, expressed uncertainty about the circumstances surrounding his death, stating, “My son was shot in the stomach and died while undergoing treatment in the hospital. We are not sure what really happened.”

The family of 23-year-old Peter Njenga, who was shot near Buffalo Mall, also faced their own tragedy.

His brother, James Mbugua, reported that Peter, a father of two, had been visiting family in Naivasha from Nakuru when the incident occurred.

Naivasha OCPD Antony Keter confirmed that 67 people had been arrested and arraigned and police were seeking more suspects.

“During the demonstrations, property worth millions of shillings, including a police post, was damaged and we are investigating reports of gunshot deaths,” he stated.

Business owners in Nakuru, Narok, and Nyandarua counties were left counting losses that ran into millions of shillings after their premises were targeted by looters.

In Nakuru, traders suffered huge losses. Stagematt Supermarket Director Viral Shah assessed the damages, stating that looters had begun throwing stones at them while they were inside the shop, forcing them to flee.

He watched from a distance as looters carried goods away adding that he wad shocked to see one individual struggling with a fridge. Shah estimated that the value of stolen and damaged property exceeded Sh50 million. “They stole the goods and destroyed everything, but they did not steal the strength and support I have; I will rise again,” Viral said.

Alex Maina, a trader selling ex-UK goods and owning a shop within the supermarket premises, said he lost property worth Sh850,000. He appealed to those who stole his goods to return them. He said it will be difficult for him to recover the loss, and he will have to suspend his two employees.

West End Supermarket at Free Area remained closed yesterday.

In Narok County, 24 people who were rounded up by police following protests, were released on a Sh20,000 bond and surety of  the same amount, or alternatively cash bail of Sh5,000 by a local court. They were charged with obstructing traffic along the Narok–Bomet highway and fomenting riots. In Murang’a, three families were also in grief as they came to terms with the death of their kin who were shot by police officers.

Kangema MP Peter Kihungi decried the violent incident, calling for calm, warning on politicians to desist from inciting the residents, while condemning the involvement of hooligans ferried from outside the constituency to cause unrest.

In Kigumo, one person was shot dead, and scores were injured as the protestors engaged the police in running battles.Area MP Joseph Munyoro condemned the excessive use of force on unarmed demonstrators in Kangari town.

 In Kirinyaga, over 1,000 employees at the Nice Digital city, which suffered losses estimated at Sh50 million, did not report to work following Monday’s destruction. In Kagio, over 200 workers at the County Supermarket also did not report to work after the supermarket was vandalised.

In Meru, Governor Isaac Mutuma and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (Meru chapter) Chairman Joshua Mungani condemned the destruction of property in the region.

[Reports by Julius Chepkwony, James Munyeki, George Sayagie, Antony Gitonga, Jane Mugambi, Boniface Gikandi, Phares Mutembei and Benard Lusigi]