Saba Saba: Popular Magunas Supermarket Burnt Down, 7 Killed as Protests Turn Chaotic
- Widespread unrest marked Saba Saba’s 35th anniversary, with fires and violent clashes reported in multiple counties
- At least seven people were killed by suspected police officers during the protests, including two each in Kangemi and Ngong
- Protesters cited economic hardship, corruption, and police brutality as key reasons for the renewed nationwide demonstrations
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
The 35th anniversary of the Saba Saba movement has left behind a wave of destruction and grief in several parts of the country.
Source: UGC
This is after what began as a symbolic day to reflect on Kenya’s democratic journey turned into scenes of chaos, fires, and fatalities.
In Meru, angry protesters torched the popular Magunas Supermarket, with thick smoke and towering flames highlighting the extent of the damage.
Eyewitnesses expressed sorrow over the destruction of property and livelihoods reduced to ashes.
In Kiambu county, youth raided the Magunas Supermarket in Kahawa Wendani, making off with goods of unknown value amid the chaos.
While in Naivasha, irate youth set the Kanjo (Viwandani) police base ablaze, with residents struggling to contain the flames as others looked on in shock.
Source: Facebook
Police have since launched investigations into the widespread destruction witnessed across the country during the Saba Saba protests.
How many people died on Saba Saba Day?
Alongside the destruction, deadly confrontations between protesters and police were reported in various regions.
Police used tear gas to control protesters, but some officers in certain areas fired live ammunition, resulting in seven deaths.
In Kangemi, Nairobi, two people were shot dead, while two others were killed in Ngong.
Additional fatalities were recorded in Olkalou, Kiritiri (Embu county), and Kitengela, bringing the national death toll to at least seven.
Police were accused of using excessive force to quell the protests. During the confrontations, medical experts reported being unable to access protest areas due to police barricades on all roads to and from the CBD.
While Saba Saba is a day meant to honour the brave efforts of pro-democracy activists who resisted the one-party regime in 1990, it has increasingly become a platform for Kenyans—particularly the youth—to express deep-seated frustrations over economic struggles, rampant corruption, police brutality, and unfulfilled constitutional promises.
This year’s protests, marked by widespread unrest across major towns and cities, reflect the country’s lingering discontent and the call for a government that is accountable, just, and responsive to its people.
Protesters loot the Nice Digital City Hotel
Meanwhile, in Kirinyaga county, the Nice Digital City Hotel in Mwea, located along the Meru–Nairobi Highway, was looted amid the Saba Saba protests.
Video footage captured chaotic scenes as police struggled to disperse protesters who had barricaded the hotel entrance.
Officers resorted to firing tear gas to regain control as tensions escalated. Authorities monitored the situation as calls intensified for peaceful demonstrations.
The aftermath of the incident showed significant damage to the facility, including shattered windows and vandalised interiors.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
