Kenyans counting losses in Nairobi with shops looted, torched
By Faith Macharia and Lavender Kusimba, June 27, 2025Traders along Tom Mboya Street, Bus station and OTC in Nairobi are counting losses worth millions of shillings after several shops were looted and burned during the Gen Z anniversary protests on Wednesday.
A devastating fire engulfed Dagia Lord’s Plaza on Tom Mboya Street early Tuesday morning, destroying dozens of businesses and leaving traders in tears and disbelief.
The incident occurred during the one-year anniversary of the Gen Z protests, which saw thousands of youth pour into the streets during demos that quickly turned chaotic. Eyewitnesses and business owners say that looters broke into the building, stole goods and then set parts of it on fire.
“This building was a printing place, but the ground floor was full of boutiques. The fire started after goons came and broke into the shops. They stole clothes, shoes, laptops, and small printing machines. The ones they couldn’t carry, they set on fire,” said Maina, one of the workers at the plaza.
The building, known for housing high-tech printing machines and boutique clothing stores, was reduced to ruins. According to Maina, the attackers came from Thika Road and were already vandalising nearby structures before turning their attention to the building.
In the chaos that followed, desperate calls were made to the Nairobi County Fire Department. However, business owners say help came too late.
“We called the fire brigade as soon as the fire started. But it took them four hours to arrive. By then, everything was gone,” Maina added.
For many business owners, the damage is irreversible.
CCTV footage
“I am a shop owner here and today is such a devastating day,” said one boutique owner, still in shock.
“Due to these protests, I have lost everything. I don’t even know where to start. The whole shop was destroyed by fire,” he added, revealing that CCTV footage had captured several of the looters’ faces. “Today I saw a video online of a man wearing a red dress from one of my shops. I will make sure he is held accountable. He must tell us where they took our goods.”
David Gitonga, a 52-year-old landlord and businessman, estimates the damage from the fire at over Sh100 million. His building, a key commercial hub for small and mid-sized entrepreneurs, is now a hollow, charred shell.
“These protests must stop. Thieves are hiding behind the demonstrations to accomplish their criminal missions. We are left counting losses and acc. Right now, I don’t know where to start. I urge the government to compensate us,” Gitonga lamented.
Among the most severely affected is Emmaculate Augustine, the owner of three shops within the building. Her businesses, specialising in men’s jeans, combat wear, and overalls, were all reduced to ashes.
“I have worked for years to build these businesses from scratch. In a few hours, everything I have worked for was destroyed. I am heartbroken. I don’t know what tomorrow holds,” she said with so much pain
Other traders along Tom Mboya Street shared similar frustrations, expressing solidarity and pain as they watched years of investment go up in flames. Many pleaded with the government to boost security for businesses during demonstrations.
“We support the right to protest,” said another shopkeeper. “But not like this. Demonstrations should not turn into looting and arson. We are not the enemy.”
The Nairobi County Fire Department has not issued an official statement on the delayed response time. Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from the building and nearby premises to identify the culprits.
As investigations continue, affected traders are left picking up the pieces and hoping for support from both government agencies and humanitarian organisations to help them rebuild.
For now, the charred remains of Dagia Lord’s Plaza and many other businesses in Nairobi stand as a painful reminder of how quickly livelihoods can be destroyed when peaceful protest is hijacked by criminal elements.