Richard Muteti Decries Destruction of Small Businesses Amid Protests, Urges Government Action
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By John Kariuki
Nairobi — Richard Muteti, CEO of the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises (CMSEO-EA) and head of the Jua Kali Sector, has issued a strong appeal to the government following widespread destruction of small businesses during recent protests.
“Small businesses have borne the brunt of the unrest,” Muteti said. “What we witnessed was not just property destruction—it was the dismantling of livelihoods for thousands of hardworking Kenyans.”
From looted kiosks to vandalized stalls and halted supply chains, micro and small enterprises—many family-run—suffered severe losses. Muteti is urging the government to launch immediate recovery efforts, including tax relief, affordable credit access, and the formation of a rapid response taskforce to assess and address on-ground damages.
“These entrepreneurs are not just statistics. They are parents and youth trying to make an honest living,” he emphasized.
While affirming the right to peaceful protest, Muteti called for restraint from both demonstrators and security forces. “Protests must not turn into chaos. We must protect lives and livelihoods.”
Beyond emergency response, he called for a national dialogue to address the root causes of discontent—unemployment, the high cost of living, and governance issues.
“If we allow our traders to suffer without protection, we threaten the backbone of our economy,” he warned.
Muteti’s call adds urgency to growing demands for a unified and sustainable response to safeguard Kenya’s micro and small enterprise sector—and the millions who depend on it.
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