Amisi: Let’s protest without looting or hurting struggling Kenyans
By Mustafa Juma, July 7, 2025As Kenyans continue to reel from the aftermath of the Saba Saba nationwide demonstrations, Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi has issued a heartfelt appeal to protesters to march with purpose, but without destruction.
His statement comes amid growing concerns following the looting and vandalism that have marred recent protests, including the just-concluded Saba Saba Day demonstrations.
Taking to his official X account on the night of Monday, July 7, 2025, Amisi argued that the looting witnessed during the protests overshadows the core message behind the people’s calls for justice and accountability.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) lawmaker emphasised that while the right to protest is constitutional and must be protected, violence and theft only serve to harm the very people protesters are meant to stand in solidarity with.
“Those who go to protest, why loot and destroy properties of innocent citizens? Can we ever have protests without looting? Is it possible you apprehend those looting because they devalue the purpose of protest,” Amisi wrote on X.
Struggling Kenyans
The legislator went ahead to note that many small business owners and ordinary Kenyans whose properties are targeted during demonstrations are themselves struggling under the weight of the same economic hardships and political frustrations.
“Let’s stop looting people’s property. They are struggling like all of us. Kenya needs a Renaissance!” he stated.
The National Police Service (NPS) has confirmed that three government-owned vehicles and four publicly owned vehicles were destroyed during the protests.
Businesses looted
Several supermarkets across the country were also looted.
Hundreds of youths engaged police officers in violent confrontations in the Kabati area in Kandara Sub-county, Murang’a County, before overpowering them and breaking into businesses.
The group, which lit bonfires on Monday morning, first stormed a mobile phone shop and looted it before targeting a nearby supermarket.
For hours, they engaged police in running battles as officers struggled to keep them away from the business premises.
However, attempts to disperse the group bore little fruit as their numbers swelled, eventually overwhelming the officers and forcing them to retreat.
The looters scrambled for various commodities as residents watched helplessly, having closed their businesses earlier out of fear.