Motorists’ Fury as Police Roadblocks Spark National Outcry: “Our Food is Rotting, Our Rights are Dying”

Motorists’ Fury as Police Roadblocks Spark National Outcry: “Our Food is Rotting, Our Rights are Dying”

The Motorists Association of Kenya has unleashed a fiery condemnation against what it describes as illegal, oppressive, and inhumane police roadblocks on major roads across the country.

In a bold and emotional statement issued on Monday, the association accused the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, of violating the law and frustrating Kenyans with impunity.

“Why is the IG blocking our roads unlawfully, standing between us and our right to move freely in our own country? What justification can there possibly be for stopping hardworking Kenyans from attending to essential services that sustain life and dignity?”
the association questioned.

According to the association, the roadblocks are not only illegal but are also crippling essential services, disrupting lives, and destroying livelihoods.

“Our fresh food supplies are rotting in trucks and lorries because they cannot reach the markets in time. Farmers, traders, and consumers are suffering unnecessary losses because of these illegal roadblocks,”
the statement read in part.

Meanwhile, those with flights and urgent commitments were not spared either. Many were trapped in endless traffic, forced to abandon their plans.

“What of those of us rushing to catch local and international flights? Are our dreams, our businesses, and our commitments now to be crushed at roadblocks manned by officers enforcing illegal orders?”
they posed.

A particularly shocking case involved youths who were returning from the Summer Tides Festival in Diani. According to the association, they were intercepted and unlawfully detained at the Dongo Kundu Bypass.

“This is a blatant violation of Article 39 of the Constitution, which guarantees every Kenyan the right to move freely, enter and leave the country, and reside anywhere in the Republic,”
the statement added.

As a result, many missed their 2:00 p.m. SGR train to Nairobi, causing major disruptions to their schedules as they prepared for the new workweek.

The Motorists Association found it ironic that this happened just days after Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku warned government workers against skipping duty

“How can civil servants report to duty when they are blocked by the same government from travelling back to work?”
they asked in frustration.

They called for an immediate end to the roadblocks and urged authorities to uphold the Constitution and respect citizens’ rights to movement and commerce.

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Motorists’ Fury as Police Roadblocks Spark National Outcry: “Our Food is Rotting, Our Rights are Dying”