Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has condemned the acts of violence and looting that rocked parts of Nairobi CBD during Wednesday's anti-government protests.
In a statement on Thursday, June 26, after visiting shops and stalls affected by the chaos, Murkomen expressed concern over the massive destruction of property.
“This morning, I assessed the situation in our capital city, prioritizing a visit to small-scale traders affected by yesterday’s protests in Nairobi.
"I was taken aback by the unfortunate incidents of violence that marred the protests. What began as a constitutionally protected expression of public concern was sadly hijacked by organized gangs," he said.
Murkomen condemned the lawlessness witnessed during the demonstrations, stressing that it undermines Kenya’s democratic principles.
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"This kind of lawlessness not only undermines the spirit of our democracy but also causes unnecessary suffering for innocent Kenyans. Hundreds of traders have been affected, and businesses and livelihoods built through hard work and dedication lost," he added.
Murkomen assured the affected traders that the government would take immediate steps to restore calm and help rebuild the affected areas.
“As a government, our hearts go out to the traders, workers, and residents whose livelihoods and services were disrupted. We are working to restore normalcy, enhance security, and support recovery efforts," he further said.
During the protests, various shops along Mfangano Street, Tom Mboya Street and Moi Avenue were targeted, with goods, including mobile phones, stolen.
Banks were also not spared, Co-operative Bank issued a statement confirming that two of its branches in Nairobi were affected during the protests.
In a statement, the bank noted that branches located in Githurai and Dagoretti Market were attacked during the demos.
"Co-op Bank notes that two of our branches in Githurai and Dagoretti market were affected during the demonstrations yesterday,” read the statement from the bank.
The bank, however, reassured the public that there were no injuries reported among staff or customers, and that only a minimal cash loss occurred from one of the affected ATM machines.
“We advise that there were no injuries to any of our customers or staff, with minimal cash loss from one of the ATMs,” the bank added.
