The Aftermath: Qaffe Point Restaurant in Mombasa Vandalized During Protests.

Osman Mohamud Mohammed a business owner in Mombasa, is in shock after his business was attacked by alleged goons on July 2, following the anti-finance bill protests that were held in Mombasa.

The Qaffe Point Restaurant a prominent business in Mombasa was damaged due to vandalism. The video that has gone viral on social media captures Osman Mohamud Mohammed the owner of the business on camera shooting at protesters who were attacking his business.

Those who witnessed the incident claim that he was protecting his business after a group of alleged goons stoned his business. Therefore shooting them in order for them to disperse but he didn’t succeed as protesters found their way in and stole properties as they damaged others.
The losses of the business add upto approximately Ksh. 18 million.

“People were having lunch here, when youthful protestors, who had been infiltrated by goons, came and attacked Qaffe Point, and the windows were smashed as people ate their lunch,” said Qaffe Point associate Abdikadir Dekow.

Osman Mohamud Mohammed reportedly shot the air in order to disperse the protesters who were throwing stones into his business in order to save the lives of his staffs and customers which was at risk. But the protesters kept on coming back until he was saved by a good Samaritan.

Abdikadir Dekow a Qaffe Point associate said that the loss was approximately Ksh.18 million and the expensive machineries were gone. “The loss is quite big, Ksh.18million. His baking machinery is gone; cooking machinery is gone, he approximated to be Ksh.18 million,” said Dekow.

A Chef Saidi Makoti at Qaffe Point Restaurant asked the protesters why they damaged someone’s property and steal the remaining properties yet the constitution says we protest peacefully. “Wamehariba kila kitu wameiba… mtungi wa gas, oven….katiba inasema tuandamane peacefully, kwa nini uharibu mali ya mtu.”

75 staff members lost their jobs that day asking where they are supposed to go even after others working for more than six years in that restaurant. They kept on asking what will happen what will happen if 75 people become jobless without even a peny. They feared that can lead to theft. “We are 75 staff wote wakienda nyumbani itakuwaje, asipotulipa tutaenda wapi, si tutakuwa wezi,” Saidi added.

The staff also condemned the alleged goons for their stay at home without jobs. The staff claimed that he was not born a thief and he must eat the fruits of his sweat.
“Saa hizi sina kazi niko nyumbani, what should I do? Niende niibe? Sikuzaliwa mwizi nakula jasho langu.” Said Saidi.

Religion Organising Secretary Mohamed Khalifa, urged the police to their duties and call upon the youths to accept the President’s dialogue. “Iwapo leo mahakama imewazuia maafisa wa usalama wasijaribu kuzuia yanayotokea kwenye maandamano. Wakenya, nafasi za katiba, shule watoto… polisi wameshindwa, hivi mwataka kufanya kenya Haiti,” Organising Secretary, Mohamed Khalifa said.

Two protesters who were shot in the incident are at Coast General Hospital receiving their treatment. The community and religious leaders are emphasizing on the need for peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding to rebuild trust and ensure such incidents do not recur.