Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, has strongly condemned the violence and destruction witnessed during Monday’s Saba Saba demonstrations, warning that such actions are deepening Kenya’s economic struggles.
In a somber statement, Kinyanjui expressed concern over the widespread damage to businesses and the lives disrupted by the protests.
“As the dust settles, we are faced with painful realities loss of life, shattered livelihoods, and economic setbacks that will take years to mend,” he said.
The CS noted that while the right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution, violence and destruction of property only serve to hurt the very communities calling for change.
“It is heartbreaking to see small businesses built through sweat and sacrifice reduced to ashes. Families who depended on them are now staring at uncertainty. These are not mere statistics, these are lives,” Kinyanjui said.
He warned that the destruction caused during the protests risks undoing hard-won economic gains and threatens job creation efforts across the country.
“Each shop torched, every stall looted, every job lost it all adds to the burden we are trying to lift. Protesting the high cost of living by crippling livelihoods only deepens the crisis,” he added.
Kinyanjui called for national reflection and urged Kenyans to pursue change through peaceful, structured dialogue rather than chaos.
“Our frustrations are valid, but the path forward must be guided by reason, not rage. Anarchy is not a solution it is a setback,” he stated.
The CS emphasized that the country’s economic recovery depends on stability and cooperation, not destruction. He appealed to all stakeholders to prioritize national interest and seek lasting solutions through constructive engagement.
