Protests Disrupt Nairobi-Mombasa Highway as Residents Demand Justice
Transport along the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway came to a halt on Wednesday following a protest in the Kiboko area, where angry residents took to the streets after a local businessman allegedly killed a middle-aged man.
The demonstration, triggered by outrage over the incident, brought movement to a standstill and caused a massive traffic jam on both sides of the road.
Businesses in the area were also forced to shut down temporarily due to the escalating tension. Protesters blocked the highway using burning tyres and large rocks, completely cutting off access on this critical transport route. The situation quickly worsened, with vehicles stuck for hours and commuters stranded.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the businessman, who also teaches at a nearby school, allegedly joined forces with another individual to attack and kill the victim, accusing him of stealing from his shop at the local market.
In response, furious locals demanded the immediate arrest of those involved and used burning tires and stones to barricade the road, bringing traffic to a complete stop.
Police officers were deployed to the scene and had to fire tear gas to disperse the irate crowd. Tensions remained high as the locals insisted on justice being served.
So far, the authorities have not released an official statement regarding the incident, leaving many questions unanswered and fueling further frustration among the residents.
In a separate but similar protest, hundreds of residents and small business operators from the Githogoro slums in Runda took to the streets on Tuesday, blocking the Northern Bypass.
The protesters were demonstrating against a prolonged four-month electricity blackout that they say has severely affected their lives and businesses. Many blamed the power outage for rising insecurity in the area.
Some enterprising residents were seen using the situation to their advantage by forcing passing motorbike riders to purchase oranges from them in order to be allowed to continue on their journey.
Police eventually intervened and managed to clear the road after using tear gas to break up the demonstrators.
Such incidents are not new. In October last year, another section of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway was blocked at Imara Daima after residents protested evictions.
These repeated disruptions highlight ongoing frustrations among communities living along major transport routes.
The Nairobi-Mombasa Highway is one of Kenya’s most vital roads, playing a crucial role in the transportation of goods.
It handles nearly 90 percent of cargo moving from the Port of Mombasa to Nairobi and other countries in East Africa.
On average, over 1,000 trucks use this highway daily, with each truck carrying goods valued between Ksh5 million and Ksh10 million.
As protests continue to affect major highways, the government faces increasing pressure to address the root causes of these public grievances and ensure the smooth operation of key infrastructure.
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