A decision by residents of Old Racecourse Estate to close a path used by people to sneak out of Eastleigh following the government's announcement of a total lockdown in the region has been met with opposition.
In a video first shared by activist Boniface Mwangi on his social media platforms, he detailed a sharp exchange between the area residents and the 'strangers' who attempted to stop them from putting up the barriers.
"The people of Old Racecourse Estate are living in fear. Their estate isn’t in Eastleigh but it’s the illegal route where people sneaking from Eastleigh use.
"They tried to put a gate in their own estate but they were stopped and beaten by strangers," Boniface Mwangi reported in reference to a fight that erupted on Thursday over the drastic measures.
An area resident privy to the matters, however, told Kenyans.co.ke on Friday, May 15, that the men raising a fuss in the video were mechanics who had been operating a garage in the area for over 20 years.
When they got to their work station and found the residents closing down the roads, they were concerned about the fate of their customers who visit the area for services and thus wanted to have their opinions listened to.
The source in the estate further told this reporter that the occupants of Racecourse Estate were not planning to kick the mechanics out but were keen to stave off the flow of the Eastleigh escapees sneaking out.
"People have been sneaking out of Eastleigh using various hidden routes here all the time. We have tried to talk to the authorities, and while many of the routes have been closed, this one was still open," the source who chose to remain anonymous revealed.
He added that police officers were stationed at the Kariokor roundabout on the main roads and were not aware of the Racecourse route and many others that exist in the area.
"These people from Eastleigh sneaking through these routes are putting us at the risk of contracting the Covid-19 pandemic whenever they beat the police roadblocks to get in and out of the area.
"The police are supposed to come in and help us, but we are reporting everywhere, including at the chief's camp but so far nothing has happened," he explained the decision by the residents.
