Traffic along Ngong Road came to a grinding halt on Friday after matatu operators blocked both directions of the busy highway near Prestige Plaza, sparking massive gridlock and forcing hundreds of commuters to walk to their destinations.
The operators parked their vehicles across the road in protest, accusing police officers of persistent harassment during their daily operations. They insisted on a meeting with senior officials from the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and the police to resolve their grievances.
Police officers were quickly deployed to the scene to try and manage the situation. However, clearing the road proved challenging as both lanes were barricaded by matatus, leaving private vehicles and buses trapped for hours. Authorities advised motorists to use alternative routes, including Argwings Kodhek Road and Riara Road, to avoid lengthy delays.
Officials also urged drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution when approaching the affected stretch, as tempers ran high during the standoff. Images and videos circulating on social media showed long lines of stranded vehicles, with some motorists abandoning their cars to find other means of transport.
The Ngong Road incident comes just days after a similar protest in Nyeri town on August 25, where public service vehicle (PSV) operators staged demonstrations against their relocation to the new Field Marshal Muthoni Kirima bus terminus.
In Nyeri, matatu operators blocked several roads, paralyzing movement across the town and leaving hundreds of passengers, including schoolchildren, stranded. The protest, which began as early as 6 am, saw vehicles parked across the three main bus parks in the town. Demonstrators later marched to the County Commissioner’s office, demanding his intervention.
Although initially peaceful, the Nyeri protest turned violent in some areas. At least three matatu owners reported damage to their vehicles, with windscreens smashed as they attempted to ferry passengers. Operators there argued that the relocation plan would severely affect their businesses and livelihoods.
The back-to-back demonstrations highlight growing tensions between PSV operators and authorities, raising concerns about the impact of such protests on commuters and the broader economy if solutions are not urgently reached.
