Meru businessmen and businesswomen have vowed to protect their businesses from criminals who take advantage of demos to loot and destroy property.
The businessmen and women said they will take ‘measures’ to protect their businesses.
Led by Kenya National Chamber of Commerce Meru Branch Chairman Joshua Mungania said they will not allow their property to be destroyed again by demonstrators.
This comes after Magunas supermarket was burned down, Bei Sawa supermarket and Selenite supermarket vandalized and looted.
“The business community kept quiet after some businesses were attacked during the June 25 demonstrations last month. On Saba Saba many businessmen closed and ran away leaving their shops to be attacked by a few people. I urge businessmen to stand firm and guard their property,” he said.
Mungania said Meru county lost an estimate of more than one billion on Saba Saba demonstrations alone.
“We want our police to pick more CCTV footage so that we can have more people arrested,” he said.
Mungania said some goons were paid by politicians to cause destruction.
He spoke on Wednesday when they handed a petition to county commissioner Jacob Ouma at his office in Meru.
Mungania said the national and county government should establish an emergency fund to compensate the businessmen whose property was destroyed.
Meru deputy governor Linda Kiome said the county government would support the business community in defending their establishments.
“The Meru community is not known for being cowards. A few people cannot destroy what we have take long to build. We will deal with a few criminal elements and will not allow economic sabotage,” Kiome said.
She said the county government will prioritize training youths in technical skills to be able to create jobs for themselves.
North Imenti MP Rahim Dawood blamed the opposition led by Rigathi Gachagua for orchestrating the attacks.
He claimed they wanted to punish Meru because a fortnight ago President William Ruto visited the area and was received well.
“We need the main financiers not the goons who are paid to cause destructions,” Dawood said.
Municipality MCA Caleb Mutethia said that youths should not be used by politicians to destroy businesses employing their fellow youth.
“Those are not just demonstrators they are economic saboteurs and terrorists,” Mutethia said.
