Kenyan Gov’t Urged To Protect All Businesses During Protests
Erick Rutto, President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), has urged the government to ensure that all businesses are protected during protests.
This follows widespread looting and devastation in the country over the past few weeks.
The calls come after the June 17 and June 25 protests, as well as the Saba Saba protests, during which suspected thugs infiltrated the crowds, stealing shops and destroying property.
During the pandemonium, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were primarily targeted, with owners bemoaning irreversible losses after their businesses were vandalised and destroyed.
Dr. Eric Rutto: What the young people are seeing is that, these politicians are not listening to us. I would expect the government of the day to be able to engage the youths, to be engaging the population across the country.#TheSituationRoom
— SpiceFM (@SpiceFMKE) July 9, 2025
Hosts: @dennisaseto @nduokoh… pic.twitter.com/dnLSG9YNZy
For example, rallies in Meru County devolved into horrible displays of destruction, with demonstrators demolishing a well-known grocery.
Aside from Magunas Supermarket, a well-known club in Meru Town called Seven Eleven was also vandalized, with some of its equipment seized by goons.
To that end, Rutto advocated for a revision of Kenya’s economic framework to protect firms during periods of political unrest.
Rutto spoke on Spice FM on Wednesday, July 9, on the disparity between the contributions of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the larger private sector to the country’s economy.
According to Rutto, SMEs account for 40% of Kenya’s GDP and around 82% of the labor force.
In contrast, the larger private sector accounts for 60% of GDP but only 18% of labour.
This, according to the KNCCI CEO, has resulted in an economic imbalance in which small enterprises suffer while the bigger private sector remains underutilized.
Rutto recommended stronger regulations and reforms aimed at ensuring the stability of small firms.
“In our country, the SMEs contribute 40 per cent to the GDP and 82 per cent of the employment,” Rutto stated.
ALSO READ:
- “Ruto’s Directive Saved Fuel Prices!” – Wandayi Claims Despite Public Outcry
- Ruto CSs Make Flurry Of Appointments As Attorney General Picks Governor Kilonzo
- Outrage After 25-Year-Old Man Dies In Police Custody
- ODM’s Oburu Responds To Reports Of Suspending Coalition Talks With UDA
- “Don’t Attack Public Infrastructure!” – IG Kanja Asks Kenyans, Issues Orders To Police
“This is while the larger private sector contributes 60 per cent to the GDP but only 18 per cent of the employment. There is a structural problem in our economy.”
“We have to change, and we do not have to prescribe political solutions,” he added.
“As we talk currently, I think the reason we are having a lot of instability is because the devolution and the Constitution we have right now is currently expensive.”
According to data, the country loses approximately Ksh3 billion per day during protests, most of which is borne by MSMEs, which have the lowest financial resilience.
Kenyan Gov’t Urged To Protect All Businesses During Protests
