By Bonface Mulyungi

Teargas was lobbed, and running battles were reported on Saturday as crowds gathered ahead of a rally by Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua in Kikuyu Constituency.

“Ongeza teargas,” a man was heard shouting.

The confrontations followed earlier disruptions along sections of the Southern Bypass and nearby roads in Kiambu County, where groups blocked highways, lit bonfires using tyres and placed trailers across the road.

Traffic was paralysed at Thogoto and Gitaru, affecting motorists travelling to and from Nairobi’s western corridor.

Witnesses reported heavy congestion, with some drivers forced to turn back or seek alternative routes as feeder roads experienced temporary disruption.

“Tyres were lit, and it was hard to use that route,” one driver reported.

Security agencies were later deployed to restore order and reopen the affected sections of the highway.

The developments came amid heightened tensions surrounding the Gachagua-led opposition planned rally.

In a letter addressed to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Gachagua had requested enhanced security, citing fears of possible disruption.

“The organised goons are to create mayhem, vandalise people’s businesses, attack targeted establishments to trigger the police, who will join in by using teargas,” part of the letter states.

He further indicated that there were claims of a plan to block major access roads into Kikuyu town to restrict movement and interfere with the event.

According to the communication, the alleged strategy involved positioning heavy vehicles along key highways under the pretext of mechanical breakdowns to stall movement and disrupt logistics linked to the rally.

Authorities had not publicly confirmed the claims at the time of the incident.

Saturday’s events unfolded against this backdrop, with police moving in to disperse crowds and restore normalcy following the earlier road blockades and traffic disruption.