Nairobi CBD losing Sh100m daily due to Al Shabaab threats

By Felix Olick

Nairobi city is losing close to Sh100 million daily due to threats of Al Shabaab, the Nairobi Central Business District Association (NCBDA) has said.

A joint statement from NCBDA and security firm, SENACA warns that terrorism in Kenya is real and it is becoming a serious threat to businesses.

An aerial view of Nairobi. Businesses in the Central Business District are losing sh100million a day due to threats from Somali militia group Al Shabaab. Photo: Andrew Kilonzi/Standard

The NCBDA chairman, Mr Timothy Muriuki said a survey carried out by the organisation indicated a sharp decline in business within the city.

He said that activity has gone down in malls, bars and supermarkets due to what he termed as ‘uncalled for fear’.

"Some malls that used to record close to 1,000 people especially in the evening are now facing tremendous challenges. At times now, they only have 30 people, half of whom are security officers," said Muriuki.

Speaking at International Life House in Nairobi on Thursday, he warned that if the situation is not contained thousands of jobs could be lost.

Muriuki challenged business owners to install modern surveillance systems.

He said the association would not allow Nairobi, which is the economic hub in the region to operate like the lawless Mogadishu and watch as mega businesses collapse.

"We are asking the police to concentrate in preventing proliferation of dangerous weapons through borders. However as citizens we must also be vigilant and weed out suspicious people in our midst," he said.

SENACA Group Chief Executive Officer Terry Downes said that businesses in the city must take a leading role in containing the prevailing situation urging businesses to train their personnel on security management.

Downess said a number of security personnel manning business premises in the city do not have a clue of what a bomb looks like.

He said that that the business community should work in partnership with local security providers to ensure coordinated security within the entire CBD.