Quickmart has dismissed widespread online claims alleging that bodies were hidden inside its OTC branch following the June 25 protests in Nairobi, insisting that no deaths or injuries occurred at the premises during the chaos.

In a statement released on Thursday, the retail chain acknowledged that two of its outlets — OTC in the Nairobi city centre and another in Ruiru — were broken into during the protests, but clarified that none of its staff, customers, or any other individuals were harmed.

“Quickmart notes that two of our branches in OTC and Ruiru were affected during yesterday's demonstrations,” the statement read.

“Contrary to misleading information circulating on digital platforms, we wish to assure the public that no staff, customers, or any other individuals were injured or deceased at the two outlets.”

This clarification follows growing online speculation, sparked by images showing heavy police presence outside the OTC branch on June 26, and posts claiming that officers had cordoned off the area to collect bodies.

The speculation was further amplified by a post from activist Hanifa Adan, who shared screenshots of messages from worried protesters raising concerns over a potential cover-up. “What’s going on at Quickmart? Goodness,” she wrote on X.

One of the messages claimed that as many as 30 bodies were being removed from the supermarket and that protesters had been pushed away from the scene by police.

The company firmly rejected these claims and reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of its customers and staff. It also thanked the public for its continued support and asked customers affected by the temporary closure of the two branches to seek services from nearby outlets.

“The safety and well-being of our staff, customers, and the community remain our top priority,” the supermarket said. “We are working to resume operations and have taken steps to ensure service continuity.”

The statement came just hours after Amnesty International Kenya reported that at least 16 people had died across the country during the protests, held to mark one year since the 2024 demonstrations against the finance bill.