Chaos erupted along Outering Road on Monday afternoon after rival youth groups from Huruma and Kiamaiko engaged in violent clashes, bringing traffic to a grinding halt at the busy Riverside stretch.
This disturbance comes just days after a similar incident on Thursday, July 24, when the same road was blocked by rival groups in a growing turf war.
The rowdy youths set up roadblocks, using stones and burning debris to obstruct traffic on the key roadway that connects Thika Road to the Eastern Bypass.
The violence was most intense between Allsops and the Kariobangi Roundabout, and quickly spilled over to the Riverside area as the situation spiraled out of control.
Police officers from nearby stations responded swiftly but met stiff resistance as they tried to break up the clashing groups. The confrontation soon turned into a running battle between the rival youths and law enforcement officers. Tear gas canisters filled the air as officers struggled to restore calm.
While investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the mayhem, preliminary and unconfirmed reports suggest the conflict may have been fueled by a fight for dominance over a bus stage in Kariobangi. Control over such lucrative spots often breeds conflict between youth gangs in urban areas.
A local security alert shared on social media around 4:00 p.m. cautioned motorists to avoid the affected stretch.
“Traffic disruption has been reported along Outering Road between Allsops and the Kariobangi Roundabout due to ongoing clashes between rival youth groups from Huruma and Kiamaiko,” the alert read in part.
Police urged drivers to seek alternative routes such as Jogoo Road and the Eastern Bypass as officers worked to contain the violence and clear the blocked roads. Motorists were left stranded in long traffic snarl-ups as authorities tried to regain control of the volatile situation.
Reports from local residents indicate that the tension has been brewing for over a week. Many recall a recent incident captured on video showing angry youths lighting fires on the highway and throwing stones at passing vehicles, triggering fear and alarm among road users.
The situation had already been heating up on Thursday, July 24, when groups of youths blocked sections of Outering Road, forcing the deployment of additional anti-riot police units to patrol the area.
Witnesses said the unrest appeared to be linked to an earlier incident in which a suspected thief was lynched by a mob in the Kiamaiko neighborhood.
This brutal act is believed to have sparked outrage and retaliatory protests from members of the deceased’s community, who poured onto the streets demanding justice and revenge.
As tensions remain high in the area, residents and commuters are calling for increased police patrols, community dialogue, and lasting solutions to the recurrent violence that threatens peace and safety along one of Nairobi’s most critical highways.
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