CS Lee Kinyanjui Criticises Looting of Businesses by Protesters: "Abomination Has Visited Our Land"
- Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, criticised the looting and vandalism witnessed during the Saba Saba protests
- Kinyanjui issued a strongly worded statement condemning goons who have been using protests to vandalise properties
- He explained why demonstrations are only making things worse than they already are for the country
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi - Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, has reacted to the destruction witnessed during recent demonstrations.
Source: Facebook
In a tweet on Tuesday, July 8, Kinyanjui said the extent of the damage caused by the protests is becoming clear, especially to the businesspeople.
Did the Saba Saba protests affect businesses?
He lamented the loss of billions and the disruption to the lives of those who depend on destroyed businesses.
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The trade CS stated that a progressive country should not allow the kind of looting witnessed during protests.
"As the smoke settles, the extent of the damage and loss of life is becoming clear. Billions have been lost, and many lives disrupted, some forever. An abomination has visited the land. Families are mourning, while others nurse their wounded kin. This is not the reality we desire for a progressive nation," Kinyanjui said.
Kinyanjui added it's sad that some people will now not report to work because of the looting and vandalism witnessed during the Saba Saba demonstrations.
"My heart bleeds for the many businesses that were vandalised, looted, and burned down. Thousands now have no place to report to work or sell their wares. This is both defeatist and retrogressive," he added.
The former Nakuru governor slammed those using the high cost of living as an excuse to demonstrate, arguing that they are only making things worse.
"We cannot sacrifice our businesses and terminate jobs to protest the cost of living—doing so only worsens the problem. We have added more people to the jobless bench. Anarchy is not the panacea to the challenges our society faces. We can and must do better than this," the Trade CS stated.
Source: Facebook
How the Saba Saba protests affected businesses
As reported earlier, many traders closed their shops and installed metallic doors, while others moved their goods to safer locations outside the CBD.
Some shop owners spent hundreds of thousands of shillings to reinforce security ahead of the demonstrations.
Thika Road Mall announced a full-day closure, citing a security alert warning of possible unrest. Traders in affected areas told customers they would not open on Monday, fearing looting and property damage.
While the private sector advised staff to work from home, the government directed all public servants to report to duty.
In at least 17 counties, many businesses were looted, with other premises being vandalised.
In Ngurubani Town in Mwea, the protests intensified as youths lit bonfires, halting transport and disrupting normal activity.
The demonstrators said the fires were symbolic, paying tribute to those who lost their lives during recent anti-government protests, particularly over the controversial 2024 Finance Bill.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
