Catholic Bishop Peter Kimani of the Embu Diocese on Thursday visited the Maathai Supermarket branch in Embu Town, a day after it was looted during violent anti-government protests sweeping across the country.
The supermarket, housed in a building owned by the Catholic Diocese of Embu, was among dozens of establishments targeted during the June 25th demonstrations.
This marks the second time the store has been attacked, with looters making away with large quantities of stock, leaving shelves empty and workers jobless.
Bishop Kimani expressed deep sorrow over the destruction, describing the incident as “heartbreaking” and a blow to families who relied on the supermarket for their livelihoods.
“It’s painful to witness the suffering caused by such lawlessness. These workers had families to feed, now they’re left in despair,” the Bishop said.
The bishop’s visit underscored the wider impact of the nationwide unrest, which has seen supermarkets, banks, petrol stations, and even government offices looted or set ablaze. In Embu alone, KRA offices, electronics shops, and several businesses were also vandalized, with computers and furniture stolen.
Nationally, at least 26 locations were looted or vandalized, including prominent retailers like Naivas, Quickmart, Khetias, and Chieni, across towns such as Nyeri, Karatina, Thika, Nakuru, and Nairobi. The Githurai 45 Co-operative Bank ATM was also destroyed, with Ksh. 1.2 million stolen.
The Bishop called on government and religious leaders to work together to restore calm, ensure justice, and protect livelihoods. “The pain of losing a job overnight because of violence is unimaginable. We must not let rage destroy our future,” he said.
Security has since been beefed up in Embu Town as investigations continue into the attacks and looting.
