Disruptions and Protests Erupt on Nairobi’s Jogoo Road Over Market Demolitions
Transport on Nairobi’s Jogoo Road was disrupted due to protests from traders opposing demolitions at Uhuru Market. Demonstrators occupied the highway, setting fires and causing significant traffic delays. This marks an ongoing conflict, with prior legal interventions having halted eviction plans.
On Tuesday morning, transport services on Nairobi’s Jogoo Road were severely disrupted due to protests by traders opposing proposed demolitions at Uhuru Market. The demonstrations initiated at Uhuru Market quickly escalated as protesters advanced towards Jogoo Road, demanding attention to their grievances.
Demonstrators vocally asserted, “Let us go to Jogoo Road and block the way so that they can listen to us,” rallying traders to occupy the highway. Visuals captured by Kenyans.co.ke depicted a large gathering of traders expressing their frustrations on the congested road.
In a show of discontent, the protesters ignited tires and debris, rendering the highway impassable, particularly affecting matatus servicing that route. The fires were set close to the Likoni Road junction, near St. Stephen’s Anglican Church of Kenya.
Motorists faced significant delays, with many forced to navigate detours via Outering Road or alternate routes through nearby estates to access Nairobi’s central business district, resulting in extensive traffic congestion.
As of the article’s publication, the National Police Service had not provided any comment, and law enforcement had yet to intervene in the protests. This protest marks another chapter in the ongoing conflict over the market demolitions, as traders previously sought judicial intervention in 2021 to suspend the eviction process. A Milimani court had granted a temporary order halting the planned eviction by a private developer, ensuring that no evictions could occur until legal proceedings were fully addressed.
The protests at Uhuru Market illustrate the ongoing tensions between traders and authorities regarding planned demolitions. With transport along Jogoo Road disrupted and past legal interventions highlighting the traders’ plight, the situation represents a significant concern for affected individuals and local commuters. Adequate responses from law enforcement and resolution of this issue are crucial for restoring order and addressing the traders’ fears.
Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke
