A section of Nairobi traders is urging President William Ruto to find a lasting solution to the ongoing protests being witnessed in the country.
Speaking to K24 TV on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the traders decried the massive losses accrued due to the protests as police continued to engage a section of protesters in running battles, in and around the central business district.
Traders decry losses
Businesses in the city have been forced to shut down fearing looting and damage as antigovernment protesters took to the streets in yet another episode of demonstrations.
“Tungeomba raisi wetu ajue vile atafanya kwa sababu sisi tunataabika. Sisis sio waandamanaji, tumekuja kulinda mali yetu. Sio kwamba tunafurahi tukiona tukitoa machozi huku. Tafadhali Rais William Ruto, jua vile utasikizana na hawa watu hii mambo yote iishe sababu tunataabika, hakuna kitu unafanya, wengine mali yao yanaharibikia kwa duka kwa sababu hawawezi uza,” George Mbugua Ng’ang’a, a trader in the Nairobi Central business district said.
Loosely translated to: “We plead with our President to look for a way out of this situation because we are really suffering. We are not protesters; we have come to protect our businesses. We are not happy to be out here tearing (from tear gas smoke). So please President William Ruto, find a way of reaching an agreement with these people to clear this issue because we are suffering. We have nothing to do while goods are going bad in shops because we cannot open.”
Other traders have vowed to take it up to themselves to protect their premises, saying they cannot stand and watch their property being destroyed as antigovernment protests spill into the third week.
Ruto promises action
Businesses in Kenya’s capital have taken the biggest hit, with Nairobi’s CBD hosting thousands of protesters, some of whom have turned to looting and destruction of property.
In an address from the State House on June 30, 2024, President Ruto put the figure of property destroyed at Ksh2.4 billion, including the damages to Parliament, City hall, and the Chief Justice’s office.
The president also committed that all looters and other criminal elements arrested during the protests will be apprehended and prosecuted per the law.
A protester (Stephen Nyarenchi) arrested during the takeover of parliament buildings during the anti-finance bill protests has been charged and freed by a Milimani Law Court.
