By Bonface Mulyungi
Police moved in on Saturday morning to restore order after sections of the Southern Bypass and nearby roads in Kikuyu Constituency, Kiambu County, were blocked by unidentified groups ahead of a planned rally by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua.
Traffic was disrupted at Thogoto and Gitaru after the groups lit bonfires using tyres and placed trailers across the road, paralysing movement along the busy highway and affecting motorists travelling to and from Nairobi’s western corridor.
Witnesses reported heavy congestion and temporary disruption of traffic on feeder roads, with some motorists forced to turn back or seek alternative routes.
Security agencies were later deployed to the area and reopened the affected sections of the road.
An officer involved in the operation said the situation had been contained and traffic restored.
“There were a few people who blocked the road, and we have managed to clear them now. The traffic is flowing even as we monitor the situation,” the officer said.
The Southern Bypass, a key transport corridor linking Nairobi’s western suburbs to Kikuyu and beyond, experienced significant delays during the incident.
Police have urged motorists to remain cautious while monitoring the affected sections as investigations continue.
The disruption came hours after Gachagua wrote to the Inspector General of Police requesting enhanced security ahead of the rally, citing fears of possible disruption.
In the letter, the former Deputy President alleged there was a plan to deploy individuals to disrupt the meeting, cause chaos and prevent the rally from proceeding as scheduled.
He said the plan included blocking major roads leading in and out of Kikuyu town using heavy vehicles staged under the pretext of mechanical breakdowns, and targeting participants and businesses to provoke a security response.
The former Deputy President also distanced his party from any planned violence or past incidents during political gatherings, saying his recent engagements across the country had been peaceful.
