Police, protesters clash on Thika Road as fuel protest grips Nairobi

Running battles and heavy police presence were reported along Thika Road on Monday as protests linked to the nationwide matatu strike over fuel prices intensified, leaving commuters stranded and traffic paralysed.

Thika Road, one of Nairobi’s busiest transport corridors, turned chaotic as police fired tear gas to disperse groups of protesters who had gathered along sections of the highway.

Motorists were forced to avoid the area as only a handful of vehicles could be seen using the road, with most public service vehicles off the road following the strike call.

In scenes captured along the highway, protesters were seen running in different directions as tear gas filled the air, while groups of security officers moved in to contain the situation.

At some point, police engaged individuals who had gathered along the roadside as tensions escalated, with some bystanders retreating to safer distances as the confrontation unfolded.

The unrest on Thika Road mirrored similar disruptions reported earlier in the day in other parts of the city and surrounding highways, including the Ruiru Bypass and Nairobi–Namanga Highway, where transport services were also heavily affected by the strike action.

The coordinated shutdown has left thousands of commuters struggling to access workplaces, with fares reported to have surged in areas where limited transport was still operating.

Earlier in the day, police had assured Kenyans of security and urged restraint as they moved to manage any disruptions linked to the strike.

"We have deployed officers across major highways and urban centres to prevent lawlessness and ensure public order during the industrial action," National Police Service said in a statement.

However, the situation along Thika Road had escalated into open confrontation in some sections, with security officers using crowd dispersal measures as groups attempted to block or slow traffic flow.

The matatu sector strike, which involves multiple transport associations, has paralysed movement in Nairobi and several other towns after operators downed their vehicles in protest against rising fuel prices and recent policy changes affecting the sector.

Transport stakeholders had earlier warned that no vehicles would operate from midnight, calling for urgent government intervention on fuel pricing and regulation of the sector.

The shutdown has affected matatus, boda bodas, taxis, long-distance buses and freight operators, significantly disrupting economic activity.

As the day progressed, commuters along Thika Road were forced to seek alternative means of travel, while others remained stranded at bus stops and roadside junctions, unsure when normal transport services would resume.