A thick cloud of smoke still hung in the air on Thursday morning, a day after violent scenes erupted in Nairobi’s central business district.
What began as a peaceful demonstration by hundreds of mainly young Kenyans ended in chaos, with businesses looted, windows smashed, and at least one building set alight.
Traders along Moi Avenue and around the busy OTC roundabout are now left to count the cost.
“I’ve lost everything,” said Tom Kamau, staring at the shattered entrance of his small electronics shop. “They broke the door and took everything inside. It’s heartbreaking.”
Kamau is just one of dozens of traders who woke up to find their livelihoods gone.
The Moonstar Hotel building at OTC was among the hardest hit. It was set on fire on Wednesday evening, and as of Thursday morning, smoke still curled from the charred remains.
Just next door, Susan Wanjiru, a mobile phone dealer, stood in disbelief outside what used to be her store.
“I had just restocked,” she said, her voice shaking. “I’ve lost goods worth more than 800,000 shillings. I don’t know how to recover from this.”
Wanjiru is not alone in her despair. Many business owners say the destruction was not caused by the original protesters, but by opportunistic criminals who took advantage of the situation.
“This was not the youth protesting. These were thieves pretending to be part of the crowd,” said an elderly kiosk owner who asked not to be named.
The protests held to mark the anniversary of the 2024 youth-led movement that swept across the country were meant to push for reforms in governance, fair taxation, and public accountability.
While Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s gatherings started calmly, tension rose as police confronted crowds in various parts of the city. By evening, scenes of destruction had replaced the earlier chants and placards.
Despite the overnight turmoil, normalcy had partly returned by Thursday. Matatus were back on the roads, and some traders were trying to reopen their shops, sweeping broken glass and ash from their doorways.
But the emotional and financial toll remains high.
“What are we supposed to do now?” asked Wanjiru, wiping tears from her face. “No one will help us. We are on our own.”
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported eight deaths and more than 400 injuries from Wednesday’s protests, sparking new questions about the police response and crowd control measures.
Meanwhile, rights groups and professional bodies, including the Law Society of Kenya, have criticised police for excessive force, calling for accountability on all sides.
As investigations begin and the government urges calm, traders in Nairobi are left grappling with an uncertain future caught between politics and survival.
