From rungus to spears, how business community is staying alert on Saba Saba

Nakuru business community patrol their premises on July 7, 2025. [Joseph Kipsand, Standard]

The June 25, 2025 protests by Gen Z in remembrance of those killed in 2024 during the Anti-Finance Bill protests left traders counting massive losses.

Several businesses across the country were broken into, destroyed and looted.

While some patrolled their business premises with clubs and rungus, others reinforced their security teams with spears and arrows just in case goons made an attempt.

Although Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli had in the morning dismissed claims that police blockades had made movement impossible, a spot check by the Standard teams across the country paints a different picture.

Security guards armed with spears and arrows during the Saba Saba protests on July 7, 2025. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

In major towns, businesses remained closed as the police battled to block any access roads that would let the protesters in.

In some towns, business community was spotted reinforcing their premises with more iron grills.

Despite the government having insisted that today would be a regular working day as calls for Saba Saba protests gained momentum over the weekend, many Kenyans unfortunately were left stranded.

Both public and private vehicles were being stopped and subjected to intensive checks, creating massive snarl-ups and forcing many commuters to turn back.

Photos by Stafford Ondego, Timothy Kariuki, Wilberforce Okwiri, Antony Gitonga, Bernard Orwongo and Joseph Kipsang