Traffic Paralysed on Thika Road as Youths Block Highway at Pangani
Videos and photographs circulating online showed long lines of vehicles backed up along the affected stretch as smoke billowed from the roadside.
Hundreds of commuters were stranded Friday morning after groups of youths blocked sections of Thika Road at Pangani, bringing traffic to a standstill and forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Traffic along Nairobi’s busy Thika Road ground to a halt Friday morning after groups of youths blocked sections of the highway at Pangani, disrupting transport and forcing hundreds of motorists to seek alternative routes.
Witnesses said the youths occupied parts of the road, bringing traffic to a standstill on one of the capital’s busiest highways linking Nairobi to neighboring Kiambu County.
Videos and photographs circulating online showed long lines of vehicles backed up along the affected stretch as smoke billowed from the roadside. Pedestrians were seen running from the area while motorists cautiously navigated through the congestion.
Some witnesses alleged that several of the youths were armed with machetes and other crude weapons as they marched along the highway.
As the situation deteriorated, the group allegedly began throwing stones at moving vehicles, vandalizing property and intimidating motorists and pedestrians. The unrest left hundreds of commuters stranded during the morning rush hour, with traffic stretching for several kilometers.
The motive behind the protest was not immediately clear.
By Friday morning, the National Police Service had not issued an official statement on the incident or confirmed whether officers had dispersed the group or made any arrests.
Authorities had also not released information on possible injuries, fatalities or the extent of property damage.
The incident prompted concern on social media, where Kenyans called for a swift police response to restore order and protect commuters using the highway.
Friday’s disruption has renewed debate over the infiltration of demonstrations by criminal gangs, with motorists increasingly reporting incidents of vandalism, theft and violence during public protests.
The unrest comes about two weeks after President William Ruto ordered a nationwide crackdown on criminal gangs and those accused of financing them.
Speaking on June 19, Ruto directed Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to intensify operations against organized groups accused of disrupting public order. The president alleged that some opposition politicians were sponsoring youth gangs to intimidate rivals and foment violence, claims that have drawn political debate.
Murkomen later said security agencies would pursue those responsible for organizing and financing criminal gangs, vowing that the government would not tolerate acts of violence targeting innocent citizens or public infrastructure.
Police had not linked Friday’s incident at Pangani to any organized group, and investigations were expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the disruption.
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