Ngong Road halted as matatu operators protested police harassment, disrupting commuters on Thursday, August 22
The mess on Ngong Road began early in the morning as the angry operators blocked traffic, creating a major rush hour snarl-up.
The protestors set up a blockade close to Junction Mall, barring traffic from Nairobi’s central business district and other key roads leading to a major gridlock.
According to the operators, police harassment has intensified, with reports of bribery and extortion running prevalent on the busy highway linking Kajiado to Nairobi.
Police clashed with protestors, who reportedly stoned vehicles in response to their dissatisfaction with the traffic police.
Disgruntled Kenyans expressed their frustration over the major traffic disruption, with some agreeing that bribery and corruption had become too rampant.
“Ngong Road on lockdown at Junction Mall over police extortion. The Mall area is a bedrock of corruption.” one user on X, formerly Twitter said.
Motorists are advised to avoid Ngong Road and use alternative routes where possible.
Further, the public service industry has announced a nationwide strike next week, unless their grievances on the exploitation by insurance companies and auctioneers are addressed.
The past few months have witnessed an increase in activity and changes in the PSV sector, accompanied by numerous announcements.
On Friday, July 19, the Motorists Association of Kenya (MAK) announced a strike notice in response to the government’s increase of the road maintenance and fuel levy from Ksh18 to Ksh25 per litre.
The association not only condemned the hike as illegal but also demanded structural reforms to improve transparency and accountability in the sector.
