The Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned that recurrent demonstrations will result in serious repercussions on the country's economy.
The warning comes amidst purported plans of a fresh wave of protests on Monday, July 7, dubbed Saba Saba Day, aimed at pressuring President William Ruto to listen to the grievances of Kenyans.
In a statement on his X account on Saturday, June 5, Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui cautioned that the demonstrations, which often end up being hijacked by criminal elements, will not only cause severe damage to businesses but will also chase away foreign investors.
The CS, who labelled the destruction of property during protests as unacceptable, stressed the need for the public to remain vigilant and refrain from actions that may cause business destruction.
"The exercise of this right must not be hijacked by criminal elements, but unfortunately, this has become a trend. Business owners live in fear of victimization and the potential for violence," the CS said.
"The cost of shutting down businesses for days to accommodate protests makes Kenya seem unreliable and a dangerous place to invest in. I doubt any right-thinking Kenyan would advocate for such outcomes," he added.
The Saba Saba Day commemorates the nationwide protests of 1990 that demanded multiparty democracy and an end to the authoritarian rule of President Daniel Arap Moi.
In a statement on Wednesday, July 2, the National Alternative Alliance (NAA) claimed that it was planning to rally Kenyans to commemorate the day.
"We are going to organise protests to commemorate Saba Saba Day because Kenyans are angry about how Ruto is governing this country. There is nothing that is working except corruption," the Alliance claimed.
According to videos obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, Nairobi business owners who lost a lot of money during the protests on July 25 of last month were seen fortifying their establishments as a preventative measure against looting during the anticipated protests.
On the other hand, Muchiri Nyaga, a spokesman for the National Police Service (NPS), asserted that the service was not aware of the planned protests and emphasised that police should be notified before a demonstration occurs.
Muchiri cautioned that protests that are held without the required official authorisation frequently result in mayhem and property damage.
"Before I address the matter, I want to clarify that we have not received any formal application for the protests. We will release our statement once we receive an official application," Muchiri Nyaga said on Thursday, July 3.
