Business owners along Kimathi Street in Nairobi CBD are counting losses after a group of armed goons allegedly broke into businesses and stole items on Sunday, August 24.
According to witnesses, the group, some of whom were covered with masks, was first seen outside Nanak House opposite Sarova Stanley Hotel armed with knives and was heard singing in unison "wantam", a trending slogan aimed at President William Ruto.
After chanting the slogans outside the shops, the individuals then launched an attack on businesses, especially those located at Nanak House, which hosts several shops that deal in clothing, cosmetics and other products, where they threatened traders using knives and eventually stole their goods.
According to videos and photos seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the broken windows and furniture were seen scattered both inside and outside the business premises, showing the extent of destruction the goons had caused.
"I heard people outside singing 'wantam'. And one of them came inside and strangled me while threatening me with a knife. They then entered inside with sacks, closed the door and took everything," one trader said.
According to the business people in the area, there is a surge of similar criminal activities in the area, and despite efforts to report the incidents to the authorities, no action has been taken yet.
The incident comes a month after a similar incident unfolded in Mukuru kwa Reuben, where goons attacked private businesses in the area and stole goods worth at least Ksh4.8 million, including electronics.
The incident, which happened on Sunday, July 20, left at least 10 people and over 46 workers stranded and jobless.
According to witnesses, the goons attacked the business at around 8am, barely three hours after the businesses were opened, and injured those who tried to resist.
"We came to work at 5am. When it got to 8am, strange people just stormed in and started throwing stones at us. They ransacked the whole place and looted goods," one of the traders said.
Since the businesses were their only source of income, the traders and workers in the area said that they had faced severe financial hardships, unable to even afford basic necessities.
Following the incident, security agencies in the capital launched investigations to uncover individuals who were behind the attacks.
