Commuters stranded as cessation of movement takes effect in Nairobi
Chaos expected in the Chania bridge area near Blue Post Hotel at the boundary of Nairobi Metropolis where police have mounted a road block meant to implement President Uhuru Kenyatta's Monday evening directive restricting non-essential movements into and out of Nairobi.
Matatu operators and traders seeking access to Thika town are stranded in the area since 5.30 am when police moved in to execute the directive.
Matatu operators, largely from Murang'a argue that it beats logic not to be allowed to drop commuters in town, yet, essentially it is people who are supposed to be restricted from movement because they are the possible COVID-19 carriers and not vehicles.
Traders also complained that the directive is not being implemented in the right way even if it meant to prevent spread of the deadly virus because at the end of the end of the day, people are being derived their livelihood.
"I live on Maporomoko Road but I have a business in Thika town, which I have to open in order to make essential supplies, and also have my employees earn their daily bread before the curfew hours. Again, we are not interfering with the Nairobi Metropolis's partial lockdown activities, why then can't the police allow us to pass?" Posed Ankur Shah of Ankur Traders.
However, police and a local administration officer manning the roadblock declined to give details of the situation, saying they were "just implementing orders from above."
