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Mombasa’s usually bustling streets fell unusually silent on Saba Saba Day as anxiety over potential protests and looting forced businesses to shut their doors, with traders reporting steep losses across the coastal city.
The Central Business District (CBD) remained under tight police surveillance throughout the day, following the government’s decision to deny permission for a protest march initially planned by local activists.
Authorities cited security concerns and the risk of criminal infiltration as reasons for the ban.
Despite the calm on the ground, the economic disruption was palpable.
Markets stood empty, tuk-tuks idled by the roadside, and vendors watched their perishable goods go to waste.
Mohamed Ali, Chairman of Mackinnon Market, said the mere fear of protests was enough to drive customers away and paralyse the small-scale economy.
“This kind of tension has serious effects.
Customers stay home, and the supply chain is disrupted. If protests persist, vegetables from upcountry will become scarce and prices at Kongowea Market will spike,” he explained.
Spice trader Abdalla Athman voiced similar concerns.
“We rely on tourists and locals alike, but they avoid markets during unrest. We’re hit hardest.
No investor will stay if this becomes the norm,” he warned.
Tuk-tuk driver Simiyu Terra painted a grim picture of the informal transport sector.
“There are no passengers. At the end of the day, I still have to pay the tuk-tuk owner and provide for my family.
If this continues, we won’t survive,” he said.
While there were no reports of unrest, the atmosphere remained tense.
The Chairman of Nyali Youth Association, Evan Mtalii, criticised the government’s decision to block the protests, insisting the aim was to peacefully mark Saba Saba Day and raise awareness of pressing social issues.
“We’re not asking for dialogue.
The government knows the people’s concerns.
Instead of blocking us, they should focus on service delivery,” Mtalii said, adding that his group had taken the matter to court in a bid to overturn the police ban.
As the country continues to grapple with a wave of civil discontent, business owners in Mombasa fear that recurring protest threats may push them past the brink, eroding investor confidence and weakening the city’s economic pulse.
