Clashes erupt on Thika Road as Githurai residents protest market demolitions

Traffic along Thika Road was disrupted on Wednesday afternoon after protests erupted in Githurai, where residents clashed with police over ongoing roadside market demolitions.

The confrontation occurred near the Githurai overpass, where demonstrators set tyres ablaze and blocked sections of the highway to protest the demolitions.

Police moved in to disperse the crowd, leading to running skirmishes between officers and protesters.

The unrest caused heavy traffic, with vehicles heading toward Nairobi’s central business district stuck for hours.

The demolitions are being carried out by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), which said the exercise aims to reclaim road reserves for planned infrastructure upgrades.

On February 10, KeNHA issued a seven-day notice to roadside traders operating along sections of the Thika Superhighway at Roysambu (both directions) and Githurai (Nairobi-bound direction) to remove their wares from the road reserve.

“The Kenya National Highways Authority wishes to notify all roadside traders along the Thika Superhighway at the Roysambu (both directions) and Githurai (Nairobi direction) sections to clear their wares from the road reserve within seven (7) days of this notice,” the Authority said.

KeNHA noted that the planned bus bays will provide safe and orderly passenger pick-up and drop-off while improving traffic flow along the busy corridor.

“This is to pave the way for the construction of designated bus bays, aimed at ensuring safe and orderly passenger pick-up and drop-off, as well as reducing traffic congestion along the affected sections,” the notice read.

The Authority said the project forms part of broader road safety initiatives designed to reduce accidents and remove obstructions along major highways.

The Thika Superhighway is one of Kenya’s busiest transport corridors, linking Nairobi to central and eastern regions. It frequently experiences congestion, particularly around Roysambu and Githurai.

KeNHA is a state corporation established under the Kenya Roads Act, 2007, operating under the Ministry of Roads and Transport.

It is responsible for the development, rehabilitation, and maintenance of national trunk roads—classified as S, A, and B roads—that connect key cities, ports, border points, and strategic economic hubs across the country.

The Authority also oversees highway planning, design, and supervision; ensures road quality and safety; manages road assets; and enforces the protection of road reserves.

KeNHA works with government agencies, contractors, and development partners to deliver major infrastructure projects aligned with Kenya’s Vision 2030 goals.