Normal operations along the Thika Super Highway were disrupted on the afternoon of Wednesday, January 14 after protests erupted around the Witeithie area in Kiambu County.
Preliminary reports indicate residents blocked a section of the highway in protest of the rising rate of kidnappings in the area.
According irate residents, at least three children have been abducted in the area in the past month, with little to no action from local authorities.
The most recent incident saw a Grade 8 girl abducted on Tuesday, January 13 by unknown individuals aboard a black vehicle.
Photos and videos circulating online showed traffic at a standstill along the busy road, with residents blocking it using stones and burning tyres.
At the time of publication of this article, there were no officers in sight to de-escalate the situation as residents rendered traffic impassable on Wednesday afternoon.
In recent months, residents along the busy Thika Road have developed a habit of disrupting traffic to air their grievances, likely because causing a commotion on such a busy road draws attention and may prompt government action.
A similar incident was reported in September 2024, when residents of Juja, Kiambu County, blocked the highway to protest hyena attacks in the area.
The protests were prompted after the death of a four-year-old boy, who was snatched by a hyena while at a shop with his cousin on the evening of Wednesday, September 4.
The residents had accused the government of ignoring their pleas, despite promises to address the menace swiftly.
Notably, this is the second traffic disruption along Thika Road, coming a day after an accident occurred around Alsops, leading to a major traffic snarl-up on Monday, January 12.
The accident took place near the GSU Headquarters on the lower section near Alsops and involved a lorry and a 14-seater PSV.
Motorists were forced to use alternative routes, including Kiambu Road, then connect through the Northern Bypass before rejoining Thika Road at Ruiru to avoid the congestion.
