Heavy traffic on city roads a day after demonstrations

Commuters queue for matatus in Nairobi CBD. [Pkemoi Ng'enoh, Standard]

Several city residents were on Tuesday morning forced to walk to work due to heavy traffic on major roads in Nairobi.

The gridlocks were linked to the Monday, March 20 protests that paralysed transport all over the Capital City.

From Jogoo Road, Ngong Road, Thika Road and Langata Road, several people were spotted walking towards the city centre.

Among them were primary and secondary school students who were supposed to report back on Monday after spending half term away from the institutions of learning.

In some routes, fares were doubled forcing the commuters to dig deeper into their pockets.

"I paid Sh80 from Donholm to the city centre which usually costs Sh20 or Sh30," Esther Mumbua one of the residents said.

"It is painful for us parents who are taking our children back to school but there is nothing much we can do, my daughter is travelling to Meru," she added.

Others who spoke to The Standard said they missed crucial appointments on Monday, including court sessions and medical attention.

"I was supposed to go for a check-up at Kenyatta National Hospital on Monday but I couldn't because of the demonstrations, It might take another two weeks for me to see the doctor," one of the residents who was caught up in the snarl-up said.

The anti-government protests were called by Azimio leader Raila Odinga challenging the Ruto administration to lower the cost of living among other issues.

On Monday evening hundreds of other commuters in the city-outbound train were forced to spend about an hour in the coaches after some rowdy youths blocked the railway line at Donholm stage.

This forced the train to change the route back to the city centre at around 7pm where the passengers were forced to find other means to the estates.

Azimio leader Raila Odinga has announced that the protests will go on every Monday until the government bows to pressure.