Kagio: Traders mull tighter security measures as businesses count losses from protests

Calm has since returned to the town, but damaged businesses, disrupted trade, and heightened security concerns remain fresh among residents following the two-day unrest that saw clashes between groups of protesters and police officers.

The incidents have revived memories of last year’s Saba Saba protests, during which a major supermarket in Kagio was also vandalized.

Now, residents and business owners are questioning why the town repeatedly experiences destruction during demonstrations.

Community leaders, including Evan Kibara and Joseph Murimi, say traders are now considering new measures to improve security around businesses in case of future unrest.

“They destroyed the biggest nightclub, and they also attempted to vandalize the Kagio Business Centre building before police officers intervened,” Kibara said, referring to the response led by Mwea West Sub-County Police Commander Millicent Ngugi and Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya.

Residents remain divided over who was responsible for the violence, with some claiming the groups involved came from outside the town while others believe they were local youths.

Beyond the destruction, the strike also disrupted trade across Kirinyaga County, leaving many traders counting losses after transport operations were suspended.

At Kagio Tomato Market, the county’s largest tomato market, traders and farmers say they suffered significant losses after buyers from Nairobi, Nyahururu, and other towns failed to travel during the strike period.

Tomatoes, being highly perishable, were among the produce most affected.

As businesses reopen and clean-up efforts continue, residents are calling for tighter security and better crowd control measures to prevent a repeat of the violence.

“The biggest question for many residents is why Kagio continues to experience such incidents whenever protests occur,” one resident said.