The private sector is calling for the de-escalation of growing public unrest following recent incidents of police brutality that have seen the eruption of clashes between police, protesters, and suspected hired goons.
- •During the Kenya Private Sector Alliance’s (KEPSA) Annual General Meeting, business leaders expressed concern over what they described as a deepening disregard for the rule of law.
- •Participants in the meeting stressed that continued instability risks reversing the progress made in making Kenya an attractive destination for both local and international investment.
- •The private sector urged all parties to safeguard the gains achieved through collaboration with government and international stakeholders in building a stable business environment.
“We send our sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives or been injured in the hands of the security officers or otherwise, while exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and when airing their grievances as enshrined in the constitution,” the lobby group said in a statement.
KEPSA emphasized that young people remain central to the country’s economic engine and warned against disruptions that could threaten livelihoods and job sustainability. While acknowledging the challenges security officers face, the alliance urged adherence to constitutional protections and the rule of law in maintaining public order.
On Tuesday, peaceful demonstrations over the death of teacher and political commentator Albert Ojwang in police custody quickly escalated, prompting widespread business closures. Retailers, banks, and restaurants halted operations, fearing looting and property damage. A hawker selling face masks was shot by a police officer in full view of multiple cameras, further fuelling public anger.
Videos on social media displayed goons wielding crude weapons roaming around the city, harassing protesters and robbing civilians despite being accompanied by police officers. Allegations arose that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja unleashed the horde, which he has since denied. He also decried the widespread looting and destruction that have accompanied the demonstrations.