Kirinyaga residents asked to protect businesses from destruction during protests

Kirinyaga residents have been urged to safeguard businesses and investments from destruction during protests, amid concern over recent incidents of looting in various towns across the county.

According to Kirinyaga Deputy Governor David Githanda, recent demonstrations in towns such as Wang’uru, Kagio, and Kagumo have seen businesses looted and property destroyed, undermining investors' confidence and threatening local livelihoods.

Speaking during the official opening of the first I&M bank branch in the County at Wang’uru town, Mwea, Githanda, who represented Governor Anne Waiguru, termed the looting and destruction of businesses as criminal acts that should not to tolerated.

“We cannot — and must not — destroy the very investments that our people depend on for livelihoods, nor should we sabotage our collective progress through violence and vandalism. These are a direct setback to our efforts to attract investors like I&M Bank. For heaven’s sake, let us not be the architects of our own poverty,” he said. 

He said Governor Waiguru’s administration has invested a lot in marketing the county as the next frontier for investment, improving of infrastructure like the roads, supply of water among others.

Githanda said the opening of the I&M bank branches in Kirinyaga was a vote of confidence in the county as an investment destination. 

“Our development depends on stability, security, and unity. I therefore call upon all residents of Kirinyaga County to protect our investments, to uphold peace, and to resolve disagreements through dialogue and lawful means,” the DG added.

The bank is the latest financial institution to open shop in the county with NCBA and Diamond Trust Bank also making entry in the last few months.

Ongoing projects such as the Sagana Agro-Industrial City which includes an Export Processing Zone (EPZ), a Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and a County Aggregation and Industrial Park  are part of efforts to enhance economic growth and industrialization in the region.

I&M bank Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gul Khan, said Mwea was a natural choice for investment due to its agricultural significance and therefore was an economically promising areas.

“Our investment in Mwea is anchored on supporting local farmers and agro-entrepreneurs. We believe in offering practical solutions that transform lives, and agriculture remains at the heart of that transformation,” said Khan.