Motorists Lament Blockage of Southern Bypass Ahead of Gachagua Rally
Politics Updated: 11 April 2026 12:21 EAT
Southern Bypass closed around Thogoto as former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua @rigathi plans to lead his DCP party in a meeting the people visit in Kikuyu constituency
Motorists using the Southern Bypass in Nairobi experienced major disruption on Saturday after key sections of the highway were blocked at Thogoto interchange and near the Kikuyu town railway bridge ahead of a planned rally by Rigathi Gachagua.
The early morning incident saw unknown individuals barricade the road using stones, burning tyres and other debris, bringing traffic to a standstill along one of the busiest transport corridors linking Nairobi to western Kenya.
The blockade affected both directions of the highway, with vehicles piling up for kilometres as motorists found themselves stranded with no immediate alternative routes to bypass the obstruction.
Commuters reported that feeder roads leading into Kikuyu town were also blocked, worsening the situation and effectively cutting off access to and from the area for several hours.
Some motorists were forced to abandon their journeys altogether, while others attempted to navigate through narrow back routes, leading to further congestion within residential areas.
Reports from the scene indicated that groups of suspected goons were present during the chaos, with some allegedly intimidating motorists and pedestrians amid the disruption.
In isolated incidents, stranded road users claimed they were targeted by opportunistic criminals who took advantage of the gridlock to rob unsuspecting victims.
The Southern Bypass, a critical artery designed to ease traffic congestion within Nairobi, was rendered temporarily unusable, causing ripple effects across the wider transport network in the city’s western suburbs.
The disruption came just hours before a political rally organised by Gachagua’s allies in Kikuyu, heightening tensions and raising concerns over security preparedness in the area.
Prior to the incident, Gachagua had publicly raised alarm over an alleged plot to interfere with the rally, claiming that certain actors intended to block roads and create chaos to frustrate the gathering.
Political leaders from rival factions later traded accusations over the incident, each side blaming the other for orchestrating the blockade for political gain.
Police officers were subsequently deployed to the affected areas, where they cleared the roadblocks and restored traffic flow, even as investigations were launched into the individuals behind the disruption.
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FELIX MAKONA
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