Traffic on Thika Road came to a halt on Friday morning after groups of protesting youths barricaded parts of the highway, causing major transport disruptions and leaving many motorists concerned about their safety.
The disturbance was reported near the Pangani section of Thika Road, where groups of youths allegedly barricaded parts of the highway, forcing motorists to divert to alternative routes.
According to eyewitnesses, some of the individuals involved were reportedly carrying machetes and other crude weapons as they moved along the busy highway. Videos shared online showed thick smoke rising from the roadside while traffic quickly built up, creating long queues of vehicles.
Footage from the scene also captured people running to safety as others cautiously made their way through the affected area. Several motorists were seen driving carefully amid the tense situation.
As the unrest intensified, the youths allegedly began hurling stones at moving vehicles, damaging property and frightening motorists and pedestrians. The reason behind the demonstrations had not been officially established at the time.
The incident caused major traffic disruption, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded as congestion stretched for several kilometres along Thika Road, a key route connecting Nairobi and Kiambu County.
By the time this article was published, the National Police Service (NPS) had not released an official statement regarding the incident or confirmed whether any arrests had been made.
