Employees of Stage Matt Supermarket peep through the window at the store which was looted during Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025.
Details have emerged on how Monday’s looting and mayhem were allegedly planned and executed in the Mt Kenya region.
The police and proprietors said that there were early intelligence reports indicating that specific businesses had been identified and targeted for attack.
Sources said that goons were hired, transported and strategically deployed to various towns where they unleashed terror, reportedly under instructions from a central command.
This came as leaders traded blame over who mobilised the gangs that looted businesses during the 35th Saba Saba Day anniversary.
Imenti North Police Commander Ambrose Kyalo said the looters who infiltrated the protests had specific targets. So far, 60 suspects have been arrested in Meru County on suspicion of orchestrating the attacks.
“The suspects are being processed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and will soon be taken to court.
“They targeted the Meru Dairy Factory, specific supermarkets, police posts, and the National Cereals and Produce Board depot,” Mr Kyalo said.
“When they failed to access Magunas Supermarket, they set it on fire. However, we managed to prevent attacks on Seven Eleven Club, Meru Dairy Factory and Selenite Supermarkets,” he added.
Firefighters battled the fire at Magunas Supermarket until yesterday amid a hostile mob. Workers at Meru Dairy Factory thwarted an attempted raid by looters.
Meru Dairy’s Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Gitonga called for urgent government action.
In Nyeri town, at least 10 businesses were vandalised. Locals said that the attackers raided smaller businesses after failing to access supermarkets. They said the attacks were premeditated.
“There were warnings the night before. Businesspeople were told to carry their goods home because goons might raid the town,” said a market trader.
Mr Daniel Gikiri, who owns Friends Joint Bar in Nyeri, said he got a tip-off from a fellow trader.
Almost empty shelves of Stage Matt Supermarket in Nakuru City on July 8, 2025. The outlet is among those that were looted during Saba Saba protest .
“I have been in Nyeri for six years and I have never seen anything like this. I never thought that I would be targeted,” he said.
Mr Gikiri said the attackers first raided Kungu Maitu Restaurant next door, and CCTV footage showed them disabling cameras.
Restaurant owner Charles Mwangi estimated he incurred losses of about Sh500,000 due to theft of food and destruction of kitchen appliances.
Two suspects, a Nyeri Polytechnic student and a boda boda mechanic were arrested at the scene.
Police reports suggest politicians sponsored the chaos. Some residents claimed unidentified men held a meeting in town on July 6 and were later seen with tyres among the demonstrators.
In Murang’a County, intelligence reports have warned of more protests on July 11 during the burial of Boniface Kariuki, a mask hawker shot by police in Nairobi on June 25.
“A number of police stations in Kangema Constituency are at a high risk. We are still compiling our data...but one thing I must say is the police did the right thing,” said County Commissioner Joshua Nkanatha referring to incidences of vandalism, looting and rape. “What we witnessed was banditry. Criminals hijacked the protests and battled us until midnight,” he said.
Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Meru Chapter Chairman Joshua Mungania said the business community suffered immense losses.
“We are aware the looters were funded. The police must find those responsible. We will not take this lying down,” he said.
Employees of Stage Matt Supermarket salvage some of the goods left by goons who looted he chain during Saba Saba protest on July 7, 2025
Politicians are trading accusations over the chaos. Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused each other of hiring youths to disrupt protests.
Mr Wamumbi claimed the chaos was a criminal scheme aimed at creating a false impression of unrest in Mathira. He alleged youths were ferried into Karatina at around 2 am. And he denied claims that he held a meeting with goons at a Sagana hotel.
At the Coast, Mr Kennedy Mumbo, Mombasa Bar Owners Association chairman, said most entertainment joints were shut despite no recorded protests.
At the popular Sandrus Hotel, the owner, Mr Yahya Baradhia, said they only made a third of their daily sales.
In the North Rift, more than 70 protesters were arrested and released on bond. The case will be mentioned on July 21.
In Nakuru, goons invaded Don Hotel and Stagematt Supermarket. Mr Viral Shah, the Director of Stagematt, said some youths stole goods worth Sh70 million.
Reporting by David Muchui, Stephen Munyiri, Mwangi Muiruri, Anthony Kitimo, Mercy Mwende, Barnabas Bii, Mercy Koskei
