Kenyans using Thika Road on their way home were stuck on Thika Road for hours yesterday after police blocked the road to strictly enforce the government’s 8pm curfew regulation.
The motorists, including those providing essential services, were stranded in the heavy traffic jam as police erected a roadblock and took away keys from the cars at the front.
Thousands of Kenyan motorists and commuters shared videos on social media of the situation on Thika Superhighway saying they had been told to spend the night on the road.
Thika Road curfew traffic. PHOTO/COURTESY
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Those who were stuck in the traffic mess due to curfew enforcement, included a couple who said they had a sick baby in the car and were rushing to hospital and an ambulance.
HAPPENING NOW: Curfew enforcement exercise by the police leaves motorists stranded along Thika Road. Some essential services providers such as ambulances having a hard time maneuvering through the snarl up.
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) April 17, 2021
Video by Gloria Milimo, The Standard. pic.twitter.com/akTTni9ORX
The motorists manage to head on home after a section lifted the cars at the front and moved them to the side enabling all other motorists to drive through at close to midnight.
And finally Kenyans took action to free themselves. Thika Road police chaos quashed by the people! Kudos #UNLOCKourCOUNTRY pic.twitter.com/596ldQS1SN
— Maskani Ya Taifa???????? (@Maskani254) April 17, 2021
Police also erected similar roadblocks on Lang’ata Road and on Eastlands roads among others, with ongoing constructions on major city roads contributing to the traffic mess.
Here are samples of tweets by Kenyans about the Saturday curfew mess:
Good work by detective Jane Mugo on Thika Road yesterday. Sad that men that were around were afraid to join her. #UnlockOurCountry pic.twitter.com/cUOdDTXVm3
— Cyprian, Is Nyakundi (@CisNyakundi) April 18, 2021
Road block in Thika road removed after loudly Kayole youths tells Police to allow ambulance pic.twitter.com/KDLtfVGoW5
— Joel Mulwa Jr ???????? (@mulwa_joe) April 17, 2021
Police officers have closed down Thika Road, telling thousands of motorists to camp the whole night for traveling beyond the 8PM-4AM curfew hours. pic.twitter.com/wwJfQWNiCZ
— AstraMainaca ???????? (@AdamMaina_) April 17, 2021
THIKA ROAD HAS NOW BEEN RE-OPENED. ???? pic.twitter.com/803x75zuU4
— AstraMainaca ???????? (@AdamMaina_) April 17, 2021
Basically, Cops are asking for a roof on Thika Road.
— 威廉 (@Ticky_O) April 17, 2021
How do you block thousands of cars, eti curfew?! pic.twitter.com/zsul7ZUHie
This 8pm curfew doesn't make sense at all. Watu wako stucked Thika road smh pic.twitter.com/PzL6mGYtk7
— Rash™ (@Rashousmane) April 17, 2021
Today CS Balala received 189 tourists from Rich covid country Ukraine. here for leisure
— Jame (@Cjamehk) April 17, 2021
But you tell us that people will sleep on Thika Road because they we're unable to beat the curfew hours coming from work because of traffic jam they can't control.
Piteni na hiyo road block pic.twitter.com/wA68MpnTlg