The government has lifted the suspension on Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) using the Nairobi Expressway with immediate effect. The decision, announced by Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, aims to enhance mobility within the city.
The ban on PSVs had been implemented in July 2022 following an increase in road accidents caused by these vehicles.
In a statement, Murkomen stated, “This decision is in line with the government’s focus on making Kenya a global leader in the provision of transport and logistics, which is a key driver of sustainable economic development.”
The announcement comes after a day of chaos on Mombasa Road and the Expressway, where the toll station in Mlolongo was vandalized during anti-government protests organized by opposition leader Raila Odinga against the high cost of living.
Violent protests erupted in Nairobi and various parts of the country, with law enforcement employing live bullets, tear gas, and water cannons.
On Mombasa Road, protesters damaged metal grills and flower pots along the Expressway while pelting stones at motorists, resulting in the road being impassable for several hours. During the confrontation, police shot three individuals, and a total of seven people lost their lives, including police officers. Many others sustained injuries.
Protesters who defied a police ban to join the demonstration against tax hikes in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Kisii, Homa Bay, Nakuru, and other locations faced tear gas fired by the police.
