Activist and spoken word artiste Willie Oeba has come out to narrate how police officers watched as goons looted from the Quickmart OTC branch in Nairobi’s CBD during the June 25, 2025, protests.
Speaking during a podcast on July 4, Oeba recounted being near the Quickmart OTC branch at the time of the incident. He stated that police officers stood by and did nothing as the looting unfolded in broad daylight.
According to him, the police only intervened after a significant amount of goods had already been stolen. He added that officers began harassing people, forcing them to load laptops into police vehicles to be used later as exhibits.
“I was around OTC when the Quickmart incident happened, and the police were just looking as people looted and everything. They came way later at their convenience, and they were harassing people to take some laptops and put them in their car. They say that is an exhibit,” Oeba said.
Oeba questioned the conduct and role of the police during the protests, noting that their duty is primarily to protect protestors and safeguard property.
However, in this case, they failed to intervene when it mattered most, raising serious concerns about the impartiality and effectiveness of law enforcement during public demonstrations.
Quickmart Supermarket looting
On June 25, 2025, during protests in Nairobi marking the one-year anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, the Quickmart Supermarket branch at OTC (Overseas Trading Company) in downtown Nairobi was looted amid widespread unrest.
These protests, largely led by Gen Z, resulted in significant disruption, with businesses—including Quickmart’s OTC and Ruiru branches—experiencing break-ins and property damage.
Accusations
Social media reports and videos surfaced claiming that police were concealing bodies inside the OTC branch, with some claims suggesting that up to 30 or 50 bodies were hidden there following violent clashes.
These accusations were fuelled by images of a heavy police presence outside the supermarket on June 26, raising public suspicion.
Quickmart issued a statement on June 26, 2025, firmly denying these claims, asserting that no staff, customers, or any individuals were injured or deceased at either the OTC or Ruiru outlets.
The supermarket emphasised its commitment to safety and to restoring normal operations, advising customers to use alternative branches while recovery efforts were underway.
A local fruit vendor, referred to as “Shosho,” recounted the looting incident in an emotional street interview, describing how goons stormed the supermarket, though she did not confirm the body-hiding allegations.
Central Sub-County Police Commander Stephen Okal also dismissed the claims of concealed bodies as ‘inconceivable’.
