Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said that the country has lost more than Ksh.2B on Monday due to the protests being held by Azimio supporters.
Speaking in Mombasa, where he received two shipments of food from the US and Ukraine , he said that a number of business owners in Nairobi CBD failed to open their shops on Monday due to security concerns.
“Quite a number of business people in the Central business district in Nairobi did not open their shops and business arising from fear of looting and destruction of property having considerer what happened in Kisumu where the Azimio people looted tents, chairs and food.”Gachagua said.
“Azimio people were threatening people not to open by threating that they would loot their warehouses. As a result this morning because of lack of business in the CBD, the country has lost almost Ksh.2B in terms of business. This is money that should have been circulating in the economy.”
He urged the Azimio leader, Raila Odinga to call of the strike, insisting that the demonstrations were not good for the country’s economy which had started showing signs of recovery.
The DP however said the police are in control of the situation to ensure no lives or property is lost.
“We are happy that President William Ruto is in charge and has ensured that no life has been lost and no property has been destroyed,” said Gachagua.
Azimio Demonstrations
Nairobi CBD has been filled with chaos as protesters engaged police in running battles , following mass action called by Raila.
Yesterday, The Azimio leader insisted that the protests were aimed at reclaiming his victory in the 2022 August elections, which he claims were rigged in favor of Ruto.
Raila has listed six reasons for the ‘peaceful’ protests including Presidents Ruto refusal to allow the audit of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission servers and deal with runaway inflation.
Others include nepotism in the current administration, lack of consultation in the reconstruction of IEBC, broken promises and legitimacy of Ruto government.
Also Read: Kisii; Azimio Protests Paralyze Matatu Operations
