Yesterday, Nairobi’s city centre was unusually quiet from the normal bustle and hustle of daily business. But behind the silence, which later taken over by chants of protestors and the explosive sounds of bullets and tear gas, was a painful truth — small businesses were shut, youth missed work, and livelihoods were lost.
The protests may have been political, but the consequences were deeply personal. Traders closed shops in fear. Some weren’t so lucky — their stalls were looted and vandalised. What takes years to build was destroyed in minutes.
For small business owners, every day counts. One missed day means no income, expired stock, and rent that still has to be paid. They don’t have savings to fall back on — just daily sales that keep the lights on.
And then there’s the youth — boda boda riders, delivery workers, casual labourers. They live hand to mouth. A protest day isn’t just a break from work. It’s a loss of opportunity, a missed meal, and growing frustration. The cost of living is already high. These disruptions make it worse. Goods are delayed, transport becomes expensive, and prices rise. But the customer — already struggling — is expected to pay more.
This isn’t to dismiss the reasons behind the protests. People are hurting. They’re tired. They want change. But we can’t keep destroying the same economy we’re trying to fix. We need solutions that protect both our voices and our businesses. Let the youth work. Let traders trade. Let the people speak without having to lose everything in the process.
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