A Machakos court on Tuesday arraigned 68 Saba Saba protest suspects, among them five minors who were accused of participating in unlawful assembly and malicious damage to property in Machakos county.
They appeared before Principal Magistrate Betty Koech who ordered them to be detained for 10 days to allow police to finalise their investigations of the Saba Saba protests that occurred on Monday causing chaos and major losses in Machakos County.
No formal charges have been filed as the Magistrate ordered the minors to return to court on 15th July accompanied by their parents and their birth certificates to ascertain their ages, while the older suspects are expected back in court by 17th July.
This comes a day after the Saba Saba demonstrations paralysed business operations in Machakos, with several businesses vandalised and incurring major losses.
Julius Kiili, a businessman in Machakos selling gas cylinders, is demanding justice after his truck containing 23 gas cylinders was burnt to ashes in Machakos town by the protesters.
Kiili said he started his business in 1993, which has been sustaining his family for over 30 years; he decried that the Saba Saba demonstrations have destroyed his investment and he has nothing left.
“I am finished and very broke because this is a business I started in 1993. I have nothing else and the ones who did it are not Gen Z but hired goons,” cried Kiili.
Most traders chose not to open their businesses on Saba Saba day anticipating chaos and vandalism; however, some of their closed shops were not spared as protesters looted and destroyed properties in Machakos town and the market.
Mutiso Muasya, who owns a boutique along Ngei road was not spared, as he is counting losses and devastated since he had restocked his shop some days ago expecting to make sales, only to find everything stolen and the shelves destroyed.
“I did not open my shop on Monday, as I had feared the protesters would cause chaos. I had restocked just a few days ago and now am at a big loss as protesters have made away with everything,” lamented Muasya.
Mwikali Nzilani said she woke up early Monday morning to open her stall in the main market at the bus park, but by 10 am all roads had been blocked and the police were throwing teargas at the protesters so she had to close her stall and run for safety.
“Yes, we support the call for justice but it should not be at the expense of our hustle because we are already struggling to pay taxes while adapting to low sales these past few months,” said Ndinda Mbithe, who owns a cosmetics shop in town.
By Anne Kangero and Purity Mwende
