Protests by traders over planned demolitions at Uhuru Market disrupted transport on Jogoo Road Tuesday. Demonstrators blocked the highway, igniting fires and forcing motorists to find alternative routes. Previous legal interventions have temporarily halted eviction efforts from 2021. Police have yet to respond to the situation.
Transport on Nairobi’s Jogoo Road was significantly disrupted on Tuesday morning due to protests by traders over planned demolitions at Uhuru Market. The agitation began at the market before demonstrators marched towards Jogoo Road, chanting demands for attention to their grievances. The protests quickly escalated, leading to the igniting of tyres and burning of litter on the highway, which rendered the road impassable for public transport vehicles (matatus).
Videos and images captured by Kenyans.co.ke showed large crowds of traders blocking the road in their demonstrations. Fires were set near the Likoni Road junction, not far from St Stephen’s Anglican Church, creating a scene of chaos. Motorists faced detours, rerouting to Outering Road, Juja Road, or utilizing feeder roads to navigate around the congestion caused by the protests.
As of the latest updates, the National Police Service (NPS) had not responded to the protests, and no officers had been seen attempting to disperse the demonstrators. This incident marks another chapter in the ongoing disputes between traders and the authorities regarding demolitions, previously resulting in a court intervention in 2021 that temporarily halted eviction notices from a private developer.
The protests on Jogoo Road highlight ongoing tensions between traders from Uhuru Market and authorities regarding planned demolitions. While past legal actions temporarily halted such eviction processes, the demonstration indicates that traders remain vigilant against potential threats to their livelihoods. Continued monitoring and potential interventions by law enforcement will be essential to manage public unrest in such disputes.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
