Anti-riot police officers doing patrols in Murang’a town on July 7, 2025/Alice Waithera
Tension engulfed Murang’a town for the better part of Monday
morning as residents stayed in their homes.
A cloud of an uneasy calm rent the air as most major
businesses, especially supermarkets, reinforced their entrances with steel to
curb looting.
Unconfirmed reports allege that tens of youths were transported
to the town on Sunday from other parts of the region with unknown motives.
Residents who showed up expressed their apprehension, saying
they expect as much chaos as was experienced on June 25 when youths took
to the streets to protest against police brutality.
Confrontations between the youths and the police lasted
until past 8 pm as the latter attempted to access the county assembly and went
as far as breaking down a part of its perimeter wall.
“Last time, it started very quietly and later developed into a
lot of chaos,” Mary Wanjiku, a retail shop owner, told The Star.
Wanjiku said she chose to open her shop in the morning but
closed it down by noon to avoid confrontations with the youths.
Tens of matatus were also seen parked in their parking bays
as operators stayed in their homes as police vehicles full of anti-riot police
were seen doing rounds in the town.
A quiet street in Murang’a town. Most businesses remained closed as tension filled the air on July
Paul Kimani, another business owner, claimed there were reports
that the foreign youths were planning to target some local businesses,
prompting the major ones to shut theirs.
Kimani, who had also closed down his business, said he was
only hanging around the town to see if there would be any eventualities before
going home.
At Kabati area near Thika town, hundreds of youths lit
bonfires and broke into a mobile phone shop before attempting to break into a local
supermarket, engaging police officers in confrontations.
Evans Njoroge, a resident, said they were surprised by the
incident as the town is a small one and most residents know each other.
“The faces we’re seeing are not familiar as these were
people who had travelled from somewhere else,” he said.
County Police Commander Benjamin Kimwele confirmed that there
is tension in some parts of the county but noted that police were on the lookout
for any chaos.
“We’re on the lookout for anything. If you see chaos
happening in other areas, you have to be ready in case it happens in yours too,” he said.