Victims families still grieving as traders struggle to rebuild recoup losses

Protesters during Gen Z anti Government protest in Mombasa on July 16,2024. [Omondi Onyango, Standard] Tears flowed freely as Paul Tata recounted how his son was killed during last year's anti-government protests that left a trail of deaths and destruction in Mombasa. In his own words, his life and that of his family lost meaning after Emmanuel Gigg died of suffocation from a tear gas. Gigg was not part of the protesters. He was waiting for a matatu at the Mwembe Tayari stage to go home in Mikindani. The Meru National Polytechnic student had not reported back to college due to a fee balance. Eyewitness accounts would state that he inhaled the dangerous gas and died as medics tried to resuscitate him at a nearby hospital. "Emmanuel usually would, at the end of his errands, call me to inform me he was headed home, but that day, he never called," says his father. "His friends called using his cellphone to inform us of what had befallen him." Tata now says the family is still seeking answers. He thanks his church and human rights activists for standing with him and his family during a time he describes as the most trying of his life. ''It is never easy, considering that we were hoping that upon completion of his studies, he would get a job and help out," he says. "We need justice for Emmanuel and all those who lost their lives as a result of police high-handedness. I will only rest when we get justice for my son. The government has remained mum all through. Let them own up and even offer compensation," he adds. Five people lost their lives and 50 others were injured in Mombasa during the protests. Edwin Buto, a youth from Likoni, was shot outside Caffee Point on July 2. Another victim Dickson Juma of Magongo was left with serious gunshot wounds on his back. Joash Ombati, another victim, was found lifeless at the Makadara Grounds within the CBD. A postmortem showed he died from a gunshot. Muslims for Human Rights (Muhuri) says the Gen Z protests were largely peaceful and well organised, but police used excessive force. "At the Cafee Point along Nyerere Avenue, despite police being at the scene, they failed to intervene as youth vandalised and set fire to a number of parked vehicles. This highlighted their inability to safeguard both lives and property," notes board member Khelef Khalifa. Khalifa says some thugs took advantage of the protests to loot businesses. He accuses the government of failure to punish the perpetrators of injustices. A year after the Gen Z protests, the effects are still fresh at the Mombasa's Bima Towers, which houses most of Mombasa County government offices, where glass windows and doors were shattered. Only the registration of birth office has since been reoccupied on the ground floor. The building's main door is still covered by iron sheets. The lift has not been repaired, and access to the 14th floor building is still limited. Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir cannot approximate the cost of repairs, but says the county government might relocate offices. Mwangi Kariuki, who owned a shoes shop at the City Bazaar on the Nyerere Avenue, was a victim of vandalism. "They broke into my shop in the Fontanela area after being chased away by the police at the Cafee Point restaurant 100 metres away. I lost goods worth more than Sh200,000. I have not recovered." "Nobody has come to my rescue. I cannot do business because I have no money to buy stock and resume business." At Dove Pharmacy at a petrol station on the same street, business is back to normal despite having been lost drugs, laptops and other items to looters. Other businessmen admit they lost heavily in sales because most of shops remained closed during the demonstrations. Mombasa Tourism Council Chairman, Sam Ikwaye, says the protests caused disruptions in the region popular with tourists. ''There was property destruction, lives were lost and people got injured as a result of the protests, leading to suffering. It is worth noting that the main tourism infrastructure was not attacked," he says.

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