Fresh details have emerged showing that the protests, which brought traffic to a standstill along Thika Road in Pangani on Friday morning, were sparked by a demolition exercise that left several families homeless.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

Residents now say they staged the demonstrations after more than 50 families were displaced when bulldozers flattened homes and businesses during the demolition exercise.

According to one of the affected people, they were caught by surprise when the operation began at dawn after a group of armed youth and police officers stormed their homes.

"We were shocked to be woken up by a group of armed youth and police officers. Many people were injured during the operation," the resident said.

📌 What You Need to Know

Addressing the press, the affected families said the demolitions left them with nowhere to go , prompting them to block the highway in a bid to draw attention to their plight.

The protesters barricaded sections of Thika Road near the Pangani footbridge, triggering a major traffic snarl-up that left hundreds of commuters stranded.

"The chief has been telling us to relocate even though we have lived here for years. Since January, they have been sending people to threaten us, steal from us and destroy our shops," said another protester.

Footage from the scene showed heavy traffic building up as smoke billowed from the roadside, with several people seen running while others moved between stranded vehicles as the protests intensified.

According to witnesses, some of the protesters were armed with machetes and other crude weapons as they marched along the highway, prompting fears among motorists caught in the traffic.

While protesting, the residents questioned why they were never given adequate notice or enough time to relocate before the demolitions were carried out.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke