Business owners along Kimathi Street in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) are reeling from a violent attack that unfolded on the morning of Sunday, August 24. A large group of armed assailants, some masked, launched a coordinated assault on multiple businesses, leaving at least 10 people injured and over 46 workers stranded and jobless.
The incident began around 8 a.m., just three hours after many shops had opened for the day. Witnesses reported that the group, armed with knives, was first spotted outside Nanak House, located opposite the Sarova Stanley Hotel. They were heard chanting “wantam” in unison—a slogan that has recently trended in political circles aimed at President William Ruto.
“I heard people outside singing ‘wantam’. And one of them came inside and strangled me while threatening me with a knife. They then entered with sacks, closed the door, and took everything,” one traumatized trader recounted.
Another eyewitness, who arrived for work at 5 a.m., described the sudden and brutal nature of the attack: “When it got to 8 a.m., strange people just stormed in and started throwing stones at us. They ransacked the whole place and looted goods.”
Videos and photos from the scene reveal extensive damage: shattered windows, furniture scattered inside and outside business premises, and valuables stolen. The affected businesses, primarily located in Nanak House, include several retail shops dealing in clothing, cosmetics, and other consumer goods.
Local business people expressed growing concern over a surge in similar criminal activities in the area. Despite repeated reports to authorities, they claim no decisive action has been taken to improve security.
This attack echoes a similar incident just one month earlier in Mukuru kwa Reuben, where goons targeted private businesses and made off with goods worth an estimated Ksh4.8 million, including electronics.
In the wake of the violence, security agencies in the capital have launched investigations to identify and apprehend those responsible. For now, however, affected traders and workers—for whom these businesses were their sole source of income—face severe financial hardship, struggling even to afford basic necessities.
The community is now calling for urgent intervention to prevent further attacks and restore a sense of safety in Nairobi’s bustling CBD.
