Chaos in Nakuru as Matatu Operators Riot

By Pierra J Nyaruai

It was business unusual in Nakuru town on Monday as the matatu owners and other stakeholders demonstrated being evicted from the central business district.

The Nakuru county government has been trying for eons to relocate the matatu stages from the CBD to other designated areas in the outskirts of the town, but bills presented to parliament did not make any progress.

However, with the eruption of the COVID 19 pandemic, the matatu operators were transferred into three areas in Ziwani, Kwa Jack, and at the Showground. However, unlike their previous operation location, the new areas are yet to be developed and lack basic facilities such as toilets. 

The matatu operators engaged the police in running battles with the police as they cried over the deplorable state of the stages and demanded to be let back into the CBD. Issuing a response on Facebook to the strike notice issued by the operators, Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui made a promise of better-developed stages and asked the operators to remain patient as the process was underway. he mentioned that the government was in the process of seeking a contractor to start the development of transport centers with all the amenities in question.

“The County Government of Nakuru has good intentions whose full implementation will lead to an expanded modern and vibrant town,”. The governor acknowledged the strike notice but also mentioned that it was not thought over and was hurried. He stated that the transport industry remains a critical part of the economic development of the county and that the government was doing its best to ensure that they have a favorable environment to continue with the businesses.

The demonstrators were met by armed platoons of police officers who dispersed them using teargas and shots in the air.

The demonstrators remained unbowed and set tires on fire on the roads and rained stones on the police officers. Rowdy protestors also caused damages to businesses by breaking glasses. Business people operating in the CBD area were forced to close their businesses in an effort to keep off of the battles between the officers and demonstrators.

The normally busy town center remained deserted as police officers made efforts to maintain calm. This is not the first time that the matatu operators are demonstrating being evicted from the CBD. Commuters remained stranded as they looked for other means to get to various destinations. Boda Boda had a field day bridging the gap before the situation returned to normal.