- A Nairobi-based Kenyan businessman shared before and after images of his shop after it was looted
- Dennis Kariuki partnered with two others to open the enterprise, selling phones, laptops and accessories
- He narrated how it was broken into during the anti-Finance Bill protests and the losses incurred
Dennis Kariuki, a businessman whose shop was broken into during the anti-Finance Bill protests has cried for help.
Source: UGC
How was Nairobi shop broken into during protests?
Kariuki’s shop was broken into on Tuesday, June 25, when demonstrators breached parliament.
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, the businessman said he partnered with his cousin and a friend to set up the business.
“The two of them would run the business, and I would do the bookkeeping,” he said.
Kariuki, who dropped out of university due to a lack of fees, said he opted to sacrifice continuing his education and invest his savings in the business.
The business, which sold phones, laptops, and accessories, was steadily growing until the fateful day when their dreams came tumbling down.
“I was devastated when I received news that the shop had been broken into.”
According to Kariuki, a mob asked the security guard to open the premises’ door and broke it down when he declined. The thieves also damaged the CCTV cameras.
“We lost KSh 600,000 worth of items.”
The distraught businessman said that they were at a crossroads and didn’t know how to pick up the pieces.
“We are considering applying for a bank loan to restock the business, but it would take a while.”
However, Kariuki said that he had forgiven the perpetrators and hoped that time would heal his pain.
He told young people that:
“It is good advocating for positive change from our leadership, but let us introspect on the people we associate with.
We started on a positive note, but things quickly deteriorated. My partners and I depended on the business, and finding alternative income sources would be an uphill task.”
How much have Kenyans raise for anti Finance bill casualties?
In the aftermath of the protests, an M-Changa account was opened to raise funds to treat the injured and bury the dead.
The fundraiser targeted KSh 10 million, but Kenyans had already raised KSh 19 million in eight hours.
Over KSh 30 million has been raised thus far.
What will happen after Ruto declines to sign the Finance Bill 2024?
- President William Ruto ordered budget cuts for the presidency and other government agencies and ministries.
- The National Treasury warned the government will have a budget hole amounting to KSh 200 billion.
- Tax expert Kipkemboi Rotuk suggested budget cuts, increased compliance efforts, and seeking additional loans as potential solutions to address the budget shortfall.
Source: TUKO.co.ke