Business in Nakuru Town was brought to a stand still as matatu operators engaged police officers in running battles.
The operators were protesting a decision by the county government barring them from operating inside the town's central business district.
Transport was affected in the county as traders shut down their business when the protests turned chaotic.
Police officers fired teargas canisters at the rowdy matatu operators who retaliated by pelting stones at them.
A report by Citizen TV indicated that a police car was damaged in the process.
“We have tried having talks with our governor so far to no avail, he just sends police to harass us when we protest,” lamented one James Mbugua.
On Tuesday, September 22, the matatu crews threatened to withdraw services after being locked out of the CBD for months.
They claimed that they were not consulted before being banned from accessing the town's central business district, a decision that they say has seen their profits plunge.
Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui llocated the operators three termini outside the CBD in line with Covid-19 containment measures issued by the Ministry of Health. On Friday, September 18, he announced that they would be locked out of the CBD permanently.
"The move is aimed at ensuring our town grows. My administration will make sure matatu operators are comfortable in the places they were relocated to.
"We will ensure the new matatu termini outside the CBD have social amenities like toilets as well as water," he stated.
