A respected Nairobi fruit vendor opened up to SPM Buzz about her terrifying experience at the QuickMart OTC during the June 25 protests. In a heartfelt Instagram Live interview, she described how a wave of looters swept through the store, taking advantage of the unrest to pillage while the city was in turmoil.
Highlights
- The incident unfolded during the June 25 protests in Nairobi.
- The vendor spoke of “goons” targeting the OTC store.
- Precious goods were stolen amid the chaos.
- Her account sheds light on vulnerabilities faced by small businesses during unrest.
Main Story
The vendor began by recalling what started as a typical day at the QuickMart OTC in Nairobi’s city centre. She went about her usual routine—tending to customers and managing her stall—unaware of the brewing tension on the streets outside.
“As the protest gained momentum, things got tense,” she said. Amid the angry crowds and escalating tension from the June 25 demonstrations, she witnessed individuals—what she described as “goons”—storm the OTC store. Without hesitation, they began to ransack shelves, scooping up items with alarming speed.
Caught unprepared, the vendor described the panic that spread among staff and patrons. “They just grabbed everything; we couldn’t stop them,” she recounted. The chaos left many business owners feeling exposed and powerless as their livelihoods were plundered during the unrest.
While the physical losses were heavy, the emotional and psychological impact ran deeper. The vendor emphasized that beyond stolen goods, trust was shattered. The incident underscored how social disturbances severely undermine the sense of safety for local traders.
Through her interview, she urged authorities and community leaders to take stronger steps in safeguarding small businesses during civil unrest. Her hope is that simple vendors shouldn’t face the fallout from broader societal disturbances without support or protection.
As this vendor’s story reminds us: when communities erupt in turmoil, the most vulnerable often bear the heaviest losses. How can Nairobi build stronger systems to protect its grassroots traders when unrest strikes?
