Business owners counting millions of losses after day of looting

Business owners in many parts of the country are counting massive losses after their shops were broken into and looted dry during the demonstrations that were held on June 25, 2025.

The biggest losses have been recorded in Nairobi where big, small and medium businesses were looted. From small M-Pesa shops to electronics and supermarkets. In two separate incidents, looters attempted to break into Co-operative Bank branches in Githurai and Dagoretti Market.

“Two of our branches in Githurai and Dagoretti Market were affected during the demonstrations yesterday. There were no injuries to any of our customers and staff, with minimal cash loss from one of the ATMs. Repairs have commenced and the branches will be fully operational in the next few days,” the bank said in a statement.

The looting of businesses left behind a trail of destruction, with many of the looted shops spotting destroyed shelves and doors. “This is the current situation after maandamano… Where am I going to start from? Where am I starting from?” a businesswoman was captured on video saying.

Another trader who was identified as Yvonne Otieno lost goods worth millions at her shop which is located at the Bus Station area in Nairobi. She had taken a loan of Sh1 million to restock her boutique business a few months ago.

Yvonne said that she lost goods worth Sh2 million. She was at home when she was called on phone and told that her business was being looted. By the time she got there, everything was gone.

“I rushed here hoping that maybe it wasn’t true. But when I arrived, everything was gone. They didn’t even leave a single shoe behind,” she told a local media station.

Shops located at a building around Koja area in Nairobi were set on fire, resulting in millions of losses. Looting of businesses was also reported in the Dagoretti area of Nairobi. A full stocked timber yard on Naivasha Road was looted. Everything was lost. Attempts to break in and loot Sam West Distributors on Kikuyu Road were made but thwarted by company staff and the police.

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In Nyeri County, people were captured on video breaking into Naivas Supermarket and stealing goods and electronics. This was after they failed to gain entry into Chieni Supermarket which was looted in June 2024. In Thika, Nanas Mall wasn’t spared either.

In Nakuru town, Total Petrol Station which is located along Kenyatta Avenue was pounced on and looted before police officers intervened. In Meru, Bei Sawa Supermarket was also looted while in Kisii, Shivling Supermarket was broken into before the police intervened.