Truck drivers in Machakos County disrupted the Nairobi-Mombasa road on March 4, 2019, protesting a county-imposed levy increase they argue is unsustainable. The protest involved barricading the major thoroughfare, causing a three-hour traffic snarl that affected commuters and commercial vehicles.
The Machakos County government raised fees for trucks transporting sand, with 6-tonne lorries facing a hike from 520 to 1,500 shillings per trip and 10-tonne vehicles seeing levies jump from 850 to 3,000 shillings. Trailer operators were also impacted, with charges rising from 1,800 to 3,200 shillings. Protesters claimed these increases lacked proper consultation and would drive operators out of business.
Police from Athi River used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, restoring traffic flow after several hours. The new levies took effect on Monday night, according to the county government's announcement.
