Police lob teargas to disperse protesting matatu operators

Police and GSU officers were forced to lob teargas to disperse the crowd that had gathered around Westlands roundabout on Thursday morning. 

This was after a huge traffic snarl-up on Nairobi's Waiyaki Way as Public service Vehicles (PSV) operators blocked the road near the Westlands roundabout from both sides.

The matatu operators complained of not being allocated a bus stage in Westlands and as a result, police have been harassing them as they pick up and drop off passengers.

Motorists who were caught in the early morning melee, decried the move as they had to spend more than an hour in traffic, with some matatus seeking alternative routes.

Commuters who were caught up in the early morning traffic were forced to walk long distances to their destination following the disruptions.

"There is a mad Traffic along Waiyaki way. Between Cooperation and Westlands it took me 2 hours. I'm now heading towards Kangemi to connect via James Gichuru- Lavington to town!" another Kenyan lamented.