Police have today morning lobbed tear gas on protesters who had lit bonfires near Wakulima Market, Nairobi.
A section of Ladhies Road and Haile Selassie Avenue have been rendered impassable and motorists have been forced to use alternative routes to access the CBD.
Preliminary reports indicate that traders began protest early in the morning following the arrest of their chairman on Wednesday evening.
The traders engaged police in running battles as they protested alleged harassment from county askaris and the police.
[caption caption="Bonfire lit during protests by traders at the Wakulima Market on July 12, 2018"]
[/caption]
[caption caption="Bystanders watch the running battles between police and traders at the Wakulima Market on the morning of July 12, 2018"]
[/caption]
A traffic build-up on Jogoo Road paralysed travel from the route as the market was closed down.
Commentators who shared photos and video from the incident also reported that the protesters hurled stones at motorists as they engaged the police.
Traders from the market have in the past protested the increase of county council rates charged.
Marikiti is Kenya's largest fresh produce market and is located near Muthurwa Market. Suppliers bring in the produce from as far as Tanzania and Uganda.
Trading at the market begins as early as 5 a. m. and the products may be transported to various parts of the country in any day.
Here is a video that was shared on the Thursday morning incident.
Fracas all the way from Marikiti heading to Railways. Police battling with traders. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/Nd2EnkeJ7y via @Mate_Tongola
— Road Alerts (@RoadAlertsKE) July 12, 2018
UPDATES:
8:15 a. m: This story was updated to include details of the arrest of the traders' chairman.
8:20 a. m: This story was updated to include a video shot of the incident.
