A businesswoman from Kenol town in Murang’a County is among business people counting huge losses following the July 7 protests when her supermarket and several other businesses were vandalised.
The brazen attack, which took place in broad daylight, left several business owners counting heavy losses and hundreds of employees facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to KNA on Tuesday, the supermarket’s proprietor, Anabel Wanjiku, whose four other businesses were vandalised, revealed the magnitude of her loss, estimating it at over Sh200 million.
The County Supermarket, one of the largest retail outlets in Kenol, bore the brunt of the attack when large groups of people broke into the premises, destroyed property, and made away with goods worth millions of shillings.
While the protestors could not break into the supermarket at Kenol town, other supermarkets belonging to Wanjiku that are located in Kabati in Murang’a and Kagio and Kagumo in Kirinyaga county were vandalised.
“I am devastated. I have lost goods and property worth over Sh200 million,” she said.
“This is not just about me; more than 300 employees who depended on these businesses for their livelihood are now staring at joblessness,” she added.
Wanjiku disclosed her long-standing commitment to the community, sharing how she has been supporting various needy students through paying for their education as well as supplying bread to a local special needs school over the past ten years.
“I have been helping over 100 students, some abroad and others in primary, secondary, and university, by paying their school fees. Now I do not know where I will get the money to support them,” she said tearfully.
“For over a decade, I have ensured children in one of our local schools do not miss bread. Now, even that is at stake. While I wait for the insurance company to process my claim, I am left wondering how I will meet all these responsibilities,” she added.
The destruction sparked an outcry from community members and fellow business owners who condemned the violence and called on the government to protect businesses and livelihoods in Kenol and across the country.
“The police must protect our businesses. We have families to feed and responsibilities to meet. We ask the government to ensure those who suffered losses are compensated,” pleaded Moses Murigi, a local businessman in Kenol.
Murang’a South Sub-County Police Commander Charity Karimi confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are underway and several suspects have already been arrested.
“We have launched investigations and arrests have been made. We will not allow criminal elements to take advantage of peaceful protests to loot and destroy property,” said the police boss.
She assured the public that security operations had been intensified to prevent further lawlessness.
By Purity Mugo and Susan Muigai
