Waiguru condemns looting and destruction of businesses during SabaSaba protests, cautions Mt Kenya against self-sabotage

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru has condemned destruction of properties, looting and loss of life witnessed on Monday terming the Sabasaba protests as a tragedy that calls for serious introspection.

Waiguru said the demonstrations which were mainly in Mt Kenya region and its diaspora counties had led to massive destruction of businesses and properties with traders left counting huge losses.

While emphasizing that there is no place for police brutality and abductions, Waiguru added that though constitution provides for peaceful protests, citizens must also exercise this right responsibly.

In a statement, Waiguru said Kirinyaga was among counties worse affected by the street protests with supermarkets, shops and other businesses looted and set ablaze.

“What we witnessed is massive destruction of businesses and properties including in my county Kirinyaga. Now, whether executed by locals or led by imported goons, this is a tragedy that calls for serious introspection,” she said.

The Governor said the looting and destruction of properties was undertaken by local and imported goons who rained terror on people in Wang’uru, Kagio, Sagana, Kerugoya, Kutus, Kagumo among other towns.

“The looting and destruction of properties distracts us from, and delegitimizes genuine concerns that Gen Zs have raised that require resolution. We must not allow goons to destroy of businesses,” she said.

Waiguru noted that there is indeed an urgency for Government to listen to genuine concerns of the youth so as to end the demonstrations.

The Governor asked people from the region “not to participate in destroying their local economy saying this amount to self-sabotage.”

“Why would locals participate in or watch others destroying their brothers’ and sisters’ livelihoods unperturbed? Why are we destroying our own, our future, our dignity and our economic backbone,” she posed.

She warned that if the destruction and looting of properties continues, Mt. Kenya region will be the biggest losers – socially, economically and politically.

The Governor said the region should not allow itself to be the scorn of the rest of the country for participating in destruction of its economy.