Normal transport activities within Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) were brought to a standstill on Monday morning as matatu operators staged a mass protest to air their grievances following eviction from designated parking spots and stages. The demonstration, which saw public service vehicles (PSVs) block key routes, marked the second such protest in less than two weeks, highlighting growing tensions between the operators and city authorities.
The protest follows a recent directive by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to relocate hawkers from pedestrian walkways to specific backstreet areas. However, the move has had unintended consequences for matatu operators, as some of these newly designated hawking zones coincide with key matatu stages.
The angry operators parked their vehicles in the middle of Moi Avenue, particularly around the Kencom area, obstructing traffic and forcing other motorists to seek alternative routes. The situation saw dozens of buses stalled along major roads, creating a gridlock that severely disrupted normal city operations.
As the protest escalated, police officers were deployed to restore order, but their efforts were met with resistance due to the large number of vehicles involved. The standoff created a ripple effect, worsening traffic congestion in the city’s already busy streets.
This disruption mainly affected PSVs operating along the Ngong Road/Kawangware, Utawala, Buruburu, Ngong, and Pipeline/Donholm routes.