This archive report was first published on 15 January 2020.
Published on January 15, 2020, residents of Kasarani in Nairobi have been engaged in a running battle with police while demonstrating over the poor state of Mwiki-Kasarani road.
Public transport in the area has been paralyzed for three days now after matatu operators plying the route went on strike over the sorry state of the road.
On Wednesday morning, an attempt by striking matatu operators to block the Thika Superhighway was thwarted by police officers.
The protesters had mobilized boda boda riders and started marching towards the superhighway when they were repulsed by police officers who lobbed teargas canisters and pushed them back towards Mwiki area.
By mid-morning, they had regrouped and blocked the major road in the area, which is a vital link for those looking to connect all the way from Kangundo road to Thika Superhighway and vice versa.
Kenyan police used teargas and water cannon to disperse the protesters, even as some goons took advantage of the situation to loot shops that had remained open.
Some residents displayed used spent cartridges, claiming the police were using live bullets.
