NAIROBI, Kenya — Confusion gripped Nairobi on Monday morning after sections of matatu operators defied calls to suspend a planned strike, blocking major roads and paralysing traffic across large parts of the capital.
Matatu operators mounted a blockade at the Kariobangi Roundabout along Outering Road, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
The road is a critical transport corridor linking the eastern and northern parts of the city, and its closure triggered widespread disruption.
The blockade was reportedly carried out by Forward Travellers matatu operators, who parked vehicles across the roundabout, rendering Outering Road impassable.
Motorists and commuters were left stranded as traffic movement in and out of Kariobangi was halted, with long queues quickly forming on feeder roads.
The disruption spread to other major highways. Motorists on Thika Road reported massive traffic snarl-ups that left many stranded, while along Waiyaki Way, matatus blocked lanes heading into the city.
Commuters travelling from Uthiru, Kabete, Kinoo, and even as far as Nakuru and western Kenya faced significant delays.
In the central business district, several buses were seen blocking sections of Tom Mboya Street at the junction with Ronald Ngala Street near the KTDA building.
The area serves as a key bus stop for vehicles plying routes to Umoja, Donholm, and Githurai, compounding congestion in the city centre.
Meanwhile, commuters travelling from Eastlands reported being dropped off along Jogoo Road, with touts telling passengers that some SACCOs were not allowing matatus to enter the CBD.
The disruption affected public service vehicles, private cars, and commercial trucks, delaying workers, students, and businesses reliant on the affected routes.
Motorists were advised to avoid the Kariobangi Roundabout and Outering Road until further notice, while road users were urged to seek alternative routes. Commuters were also encouraged to allow extra travel time and reschedule non-essential movement.
The disruption came despite an announcement by the Federation of Public Transport Sector (FPTS) on Sunday, February 1, suspending a planned nationwide matatu strike to allow dialogue among stakeholders.
Matatu operators had earlier announced plans for a shutdown beginning January 28 to protest the alleged torching of their vehicles by boda boda operators, accusing the government of failing to address growing hostility against public transport operators.
Some truckers had also signalled plans to join the strike.
The scenes witnessed on Monday morning suggest that the suspension directive was ignored by some operators, raising concerns over coordination within the sector and the government’s ability to enforce agreements reached with transport stakeholders.
Tension is mounting in Nairobi’s Central Business District as police forcibly remove number plates from vehicles blocking roads during ongoing protests by matatu operators.Police officers were seen removing registration plates from PSVs parked across major roads as they work to
