Chaos erupted in the capital on Monday morning as sections of matatu operators ignored calls to halt a planned strike.
Forward Travellers matatu operators blocked Outering Road at the Kariobangi Roundabout, bringing traffic to a complete standstill.
Vehicles were parked across the busy junction, rendering the key route impassable.
Confusion in the Capital After Matatu Operators Ignore Strike Suspension Call. Photo: Courtesy.
The closure caused widespread disruption, affecting commuters who rely on the road to travel between the eastern and northern parts of the city.
Motorists and commuters were stranded as traffic in and out of Kariobangi came to a halt, with long queues quickly forming on feeder roads.
Commuters on Thika Road also reported severe congestion, leaving many vehicles stuck for hours.
In the CBD, several buses blocked sections of Tom Mboya Street at the junction with Ronald Ngara Street near the KTDA building.
The area, a key bus stop for routes to Umoja, Donholm, and Githurai, experienced significant disruption.
Residents traveling into the city from Eastlands were reportedly dropped along Jogoo Road, with touts claiming that SACCOs were preventing matatus from entering the capital.
The strike affected public service vehicles, private cars, and commercial trucks, causing delays for workers, students, and businesses dependent on these routes.
Authorities are advising motorists to avoid Kariobangi Roundabout and Outering Road until further notice.
Commuters are urged to use alternative routes, allow extra travel time, and reschedule non-essential trips.
Matatu operators had scheduled a nationwide strike to protest attacks on their vehicles, but despite the Federation of Public Transport Sector (FPTS) calling off the action on February 1 to allow talks, some operators went ahead, triggering chaos on Monday.
