NAIROBI SHUTDOWN

Thousands of motorists and passengers were caught up in a Nairobi-wide lockdown on the night of Saturday, April 17, after police moved to enforce the 8 pm to 4 am curfew.

Several major roads leading in the city including Thika Road, Langata Road, Mombasa Road, Waiyaki Way and Jogoo Road had police roadblocks causing major traffic gridlock, with no cars allowed in and out of the city.

Sources indicate that police also put up roadblocks across several roads within the city including Wilson Airport, Galleria Mall, Mwiki, Kasarani, Junction Mall and Shujaa Mall.

Other police roadblocks were at the Coptic Hospital, Elgeyo Road, Arboretum Road and Kayole Junction.

One motorist posted a video online saying, “I am now on Thika Road and the police have blocked the road because it’s past curfew time. They (police) have told us we will sleep on the road until 4 am.”

Crowdsourcing traffic app Ma3Route indicated that traffic was backed up along Eastern bypass and Kangundo Road.

Essential service vehicles such as ambulances were finding it difficult to navigate through the chock-a-block traffic that saw motorists get out of their cars as there was no movement as at 11 pm.   

By Kenyans.co.ke