Murang'a town residents at a mobile phone shop that was vandalised and looted by thugs on May 18, 2026, during the chaotic protests/ ALICE WAITHERAThe business community in Murang’a town has vowed never again to allow goons to vandalise their premises in the name of demonstrations after chaotic protests left traders counting losses worth millions of shillings.
The traders said criminals infiltrated protests held on Monday and attacked businesses across the town, looting goods, destroying property and leaving many small-scale operators devastated.
The protests, which began at around 11 am, turned chaotic when groups of youths started attacking businesses and engaging police officers in running battles.
Kamau Mwangi, a smokies vendor, said many traders were caught off guard when the rowdy youths suddenly turned on their businesses, eating smokies, chapatis and eggs worth thousands of shillings before destroying tables and jikos.
“We had opened our businesses as usual, but closed down when police officers started fighting with the youths. When it calmed down at around 5 pm, and the goons were driven out of town, many of us were tempted to reopen our businesses to clear our stock,” he said.
Mwangi said some vendors were unable to shut down quickly enough when the youths resurfaced, leaving them exposed to losses and destruction.
Joy Wangui, outside her mobile phone shop that was vandalised and looted on May 18, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERAThe goons later vandalised a mobile phone shop along the same street. The proprietor, Joy Wangui (Joycom), said the attack caused losses of about Sh800,000, including stolen phones and damaged property.
Wangui said she had closed the shop earlier and gone home, only to receive calls from fellow traders informing her that the business had been attacked.
When she rushed back, she found that the youths had smashed the display glass before using customised sticks to bypass metal grills and pull phones from shelves inside the shop.
“They must have lifted each other because even phones on the top shelves were stolen. Whatever was not stolen was destroyed, though the door remained intact,” she said, adding that she had recently taken a loan to restock the shop.
She appealed to the government to compensate traders who lose businesses during violent protests.
Several other businesses selling mitura, samosas and chicken were also attacked. Outside a popular club, the youths reportedly found a chef preparing grilled chicken, ate the food and escaped with live chickens.
Police officers at Magunas wholesale outlet, soon after it was looted by thugs on May 18, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERAThe situation worsened after nightfall as groups of youths continued engaging police officers in running battles across the town. Three banks were vandalised while Magunas wholesale outlet was looted.
Security officers struggled to contain the unrest throughout the night, with gunshots ringing out until about 5.30 am on Tuesday.
Most traders who turned up to assess the damage kept their premises closed as police officers patrolled the streets.
George Gathuru called on the government to put measures in place to prevent violent protests, saying innocent Kenyans continue suffering despite already grappling with the high cost of living.
“We are all angry over the rising cost of living, and higher fuel prices will only make the situation worse. The government has no option but to listen to wananchi,” he said.
Gathuru, a butchery owner, said traders fully support peaceful demonstrations but would no longer tolerate outsiders vandalising businesses during protests.
A bundle of commodities abandoned outside Magunas wholesale outlet in Murang'a town that was vandalised by thugs on May 18, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA
Murang’a is a small and close-knit town where strangers can easily be identified, he added, insisting that the criminals were not locals.
Oscar Muiruri, another trader, said the youths who vandalised businesses and attacked police officers with stones had come into town with the sole intention of looting.
“Peaceful protesters only want their message heard, but the people we saw were looking for opportunities to steal,” he said.
Josphat Kang’ethe said many victims relied entirely on their businesses for survival and had now lost their livelihoods.
County Commissioner Hassan Bule confirmed the incidents, saying 17 suspects had been arrested and were being processed.
“The worst-affected area was near Marikiti along Biashara Street. Other groups attempted to block the road at Kenol town but were repulsed. This was not about fuel prices,” he said.
Gladys Wanjiru, who sustained losses amounting to Sh150,000 when thugs stoned her office in Murang'a town during the protests/ ALICE WAITHERA
Bule said investigations would establish where the suspects had come from, adding that while every Kenyan has a right to protest, security agencies have a duty to protect life and property.
Bule said investigations would establish where the suspects had come from, adding that while every Kenyan has a right to protest, security agencies have a duty to protect life and property.
“The worst-affected area was near Marikiti along Biashara Street. Other groups attempted to block the road at Kenol town but were repulsed. This was not about fuel prices,” he said.
Peter Mwangi, chairperson of the Murang’a County Bodaboda Association, said residents would organise themselves to protect businesses from future attacks, insisting the town would not surrender to criminals hiding behind demonstrations.
Eatery owner Joe Kanguchu also volunteered to replace a communal television stolen from the taxi bay during the chaos, saying the destruction had deeply shocked residents.
Traders maintained that their dispute was not with peaceful protesters but with criminal gangs exploiting demonstrations to loot businesses and terrorize innocent residents.
Murang'a town-Mukuyu road that is still filled with rocks used by the youths during the chaotic protests on May 18, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA
