Over 200 truck drivers in Machakos County disrupted the Nairobi-Mombasa road on March 4, 2019, protesting a sharp increase in levies imposed by the county government. The blockade, which lasted up to three hours, involved trucks carrying ballast from Mlolongo quarries, causing severe traffic congestion.
The Machakos County government raised cess fees for trucks transporting ballast, increasing charges from Sh520 to Sh1,500 per trip for six-tonne lorries, Sh850 to Sh3,000 for 10-tonne vehicles, and Sh1,800 to Sh3,200 for trailers. Protesters argued the hikes would make their operations unsustainable.
John Kamau, a truck owner, stated the levies would force businesses to shut down. He criticized the poor condition of roads leading to quarries, which he said damaged vehicles. Protesters blocked Mto wa Mawe bridge, with police using tear gas to disperse them and towing several vehicles.
The ballast industry supports over 5,000 jobs in Mlolongo, with daily shipments averaging 1,000 trucks. Each vehicle makes three to four trips, but the standoff risked increasing construction costs by disrupting supply chains.
