Traders in Embu Town have vowed to safeguard their businesses during Thursday’s Gen Z protests, saying they will not allow criminals and opportunistic goons to take advantage of the demonstrations to loot and vandalise property.

Speaking during a press briefing held in Embu Town on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the traders, led by Embu Business Owners Association Chairman Charles Mugambi, expressed concern over incidents of looting and destruction that have been witnessed during previous demonstrations in different parts of the country.

Mugambi said business owners had suffered significant losses whenever protests turned chaotic and stressed that traders were determined to protect their investments from any form of criminal activity.

He noted that while every Kenyan has a constitutional right to peaceful demonstrations, criminal elements should not be allowed to infiltrate the protests and engage in acts of lawlessness.

Cooperation with security agencies

According to Mugambi, traders have already established close cooperation with security agencies to ensure businesses, customers, and workers remain safe throughout the planned demonstrations.

He urged residents participating in the protests to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid actions that could disrupt business operations or endanger the livelihoods of innocent traders.

His sentiments were echoed by businessman Danston Mungatana, who said traders had for a long time borne the burden of looting and vandalism whenever demonstrations occurred.

Mungatana noted that many businesses were still recovering from losses incurred during previous unrest and warned that traders would not condone any attempts to destroy property under the guise of protests.

At the same time, Embu Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Emily Wawira encouraged traders not to panic, assuring them that measures had been put in place to guarantee their safety.

Wawira urged business owners to open their premises as usual, expressing confidence that security agencies would maintain law and order throughout the day.

On his part, Embu West Sub-County Police Commander Vincent Kitili issued a stern warning to individuals planning to infiltrate the demonstrations and engage in criminal activities.

Kitili said security officers would remain on high alert and that anyone found looting, vandalising property or disrupting public order would face the full force of the law.

Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi also appealed to young people to avoid being dragged into destructive demonstrations, urging them to give room for dialogue and engagement on issues affecting them while maintaining peace and stability in the county.

Calls for peaceful demonstrations

Despite widespread support for the commemorations among sections of civil society and youth groups, concerns have emerged over the possibility of violence and infiltration by criminal gangs.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has appealed to the youths to reconsider participating in the planned June 25, 2026, demonstrations, citing fears of violence and loss of life.

Speaking from Wamunyoro on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Gachagua claimed he had received intelligence reports indicating that criminal gangs would be deployed to infiltrate the protests and cause chaos in various parts of the country, including Nairobi, the Mount Kenya region, Kajiado and Narok counties.

Security agencies have warned against individuals seeking to exploit the demonstrations for criminal purposes, while several community organisations have urged participants to remain peaceful.