"We lost everything" Small businesses struggle to rebuild after chaos

Many suffered devastating losses after opportunistic looters took advantage of the unrest, ransacking shops and setting them ablaze. Goods worth millions of shillings were destroyed in the chaos, leaving livelihoods in ruins.

In a bid to recover, some traders have turned to community fundraising efforts, forming WhatsApp groups to appeal for support from friends, well-wishers, and fellow Kenyans willing to help them start over. 

Caroline Kambua was a trusted figure in Nairobi’s bustling OTC area, known for her reliable parcel reception, storage, and dispatch business.

For years, she earned the confidence of clients who entrusted her with goods worth millions. But that trust — and her business — came crashing down on June 25.

During nationwide protests held to commemorate victims of last year's anti-government demonstrations, a wave of violence swept through downtown Nairobi.

A group of unidentified individuals broke into shops, looting and setting ablaze businesses — Kambua’s included. Her clients’ goods, stored in her shop, were reduced to ashes.

"Some of the parcels included boxes of phones. One client came threatening to sue me but later understood. The rest were mostly clothes. The owners haven’t contacted me, but they know the goods were burned," said Kambua.

In the days that followed, a shaken Kambua shut down operations. But refusing to give up, she began rebuilding from scratch.

With her shop in ruins, she now runs her business from the street, receiving and dispatching parcels the same day. She also operates a mobile money kiosk beside the charred remains of what was once her store.

"From that Thursday, I felt weak, but I decided to come and set up outside because my clients were struggling. Even the M-Pesa, I now offer services here from the roadside," she said.

Just a few steps away, Victor Kemboi, who owned a cleaning services business, is facing a similar fate. The protests left his business — Signature Cleaning Services — completely destroyed.

"I’m now being haunted by the loans. I don’t want to go back home. I had 36 staff," said Kemboi.

He lost two shops and an estimated Ksh.2.6 million in assets.

"We need real help. I’ve spent nights here for up to three days straight. If I get the capacity to restart, I will," he added.

For Mercy Lonzi, the pain is just as raw. She ran a combined agrovet and stationery shop, valued at close to Ksh.3 million. Today, she wakes up with no clear path forward.

"We are in a very tough situation. They looted when the kids were about to return to school," she said.

Their stories are echoed by countless other traders across Nairobi and beyond, left reeling in the aftermath of protests that quickly turned violent. As talk of fresh demonstrations looms, anxiety grips business owners who fear further losses.

The traders are now calling on the government to guarantee security during public demonstrations — and more importantly, to find a lasting solution to the unrest that continues to destabilize livelihoods.