Chaos Erupts on Jogoo Road as Traders Protest Demolitions at Uhuru Market

Transport on Nairobi’s busy Jogoo Road was thrown into disarray for several hours on Tuesday morning as furious traders took to the streets to protest planned demolitions at Uhuru Market.

The demonstrations began at Uhuru Market, located just a short distance from Jogoo Road, before the angry traders decided to escalate their action by marching towards the major highway.

“We must go to Jogoo Road and block it so that they will be forced to listen to us,” some of the traders were heard shouting as they mobilized others to join them.

Footage reviewed by Newshub.co.ke showed large groups of agitated traders storming the highway, determined to make their voices heard.

To further disrupt traffic, they set tyres and heaps of garbage on fire, making the road impassable for matatus and other motorists.

The burning barricades were placed near the junction with Likoni Road, close to St Stephen’s Anglican Church of Kenya.

As a result, motorists had no choice but to seek alternative routes, with many opting to divert to Outering Road and use Juja Road to access Nairobi’s central business district.

Others maneuvered through feeder roads within nearby estates in an attempt to bypass the traffic snarl-up caused by the protest.

By the time this report was published, the National Police Service (NPS) had not yet issued an official response, and no officers had been deployed to quell the unrest.

This is not the first time traders at Uhuru Market have resisted eviction attempts. In 2021, they took legal action to stop the demolitions, seeking court intervention to safeguard their businesses.

The traders were granted temporary relief when the Milimani Court issued an order barring a private developer from carrying out evictions.

The ruling ensured that no trader would be forced out until the court fully heard and determined their application.

Despite the legal battle, tensions remain high, with traders fearing that demolition plans could still proceed, threatening their livelihoods.

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