By Clement Kamau
Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang'i was on Monday morning caught up in a matatu operators' demonstration at Rironi on the busy Nairobi-Naivasha highway.
The operators, mainly from Limuru in Kiambu County, were protesting against the mounting of a roadblock at Rironi which they say has interrupted their business.
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On noticing a siren made by Dr. Matiang'i's chase car, the operators blocked the road prompting the CS to alight and address them.
He told them to be patient and allow free flow of traffic as the government addresses the matter.
"We are aware that the roadblocks are negatively affecting the country's economy but we have to look into the matter diligently. The Inspector-General of Police and Kenya National Highway Authority officials are addressing the problem and you should expect changes by tomorrow," CS Matiangí said before boarded his vehicle.
Earlier, more than 300 vehicles belonging to Likana and Lina Saccos had blocked the road for hours as their officials sought audience with Limuru Deputy County Commissioner Charles Mukele.
The incident caused a major traffic snarl-up which stretched for more than five kilometres.
"The roadblock is inconsequential because there are matatu stages on either side of the road and it's only PSVs being "blocked rather than people," said a traveller.
Another commuter said that it should dawn on those manning the roadblocks that vehicles do not transmit Covid-19 but rather people.
On Sunday, June 14, motorists and matatu operators woke up to find additional roadblocks mounted on several roads within the Limuru Sub-County.
This was only two weeks after the same was minimized following a highlight of the plights of motorists, commuters and locals by People Daily.
They questioned the rationale behind the move, noting that the roadblocks are not only irritating but also a hindrance to their movement.
There are now eight roadblocks within Limuru sub-county which is within the Nairobi Metropolitan Services area.
The roadblocks were mounted to control mass movement of people into and out of Nairobi area to contain the spread of Covid-19.
On Monday, Limuru MP Peter Mwathi termed the remounting of the Rironi roadblock as insensitive and a deliberate move of killing his constituency economically.
Mwathi said that the roadblocks should be mounted at the borders of the metropolitan area and not within the same.
"My people are wondering whether they are in a total lockdown because roadblocks are littered in every corner such that even accessing their farms, homes and businesses has become impossible," he said.
